- Trends in accidents involving lithium-ion battery products
- Checking the PSE mark and recall information before you buy
- Charging, storage and what to do with a swollen battery
- Disposal without mixing batteries into household rubbish, and JBRC collection
- The carry-on rules in force since April 2026
The short answer
Preventing power bank fires comes down to four habits: choose products with the PSE mark, charge where you can see them, stop using any that swell, and never put them out with ordinary rubbish. On flights, since 24 April 2026 you may carry no more than two power banks in the cabin, and you are asked not to use or charge them on board.
Before travelling home for the New Year or going on a business trip, it is worth laying out the power banks you own and checking them once.
What kinds of accidents happen
According to NITE (the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation), it received 2,140 reports of accidents involving products with lithium-ion batteries in the five years from 2021 to 2025. Power banks were the most common product, and portable power stations are also rising. Accidents increase as temperatures climb from spring to summer and peak in August.
Examples of causes include a power bank left in a hot car that swelled and burst, a battery that overheated after a hard knock to its casing, and a recalled product that caught fire while charging because the owner did not know about the recall.
In October 2025 the Consumer Affairs Agency also reported 162 accidents involving smoke or fire from wireless earphones, smartwatches and handheld fans over the five fiscal years from 2020 to 2024, and said 136 of them were thought to be caused by lithium-ion batteries. Small products worn on the body are affected too.
Before you buy: the PSE mark and recalls
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, power banks fall under the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act, and since 1 February 2019 they may not be sold without the PSE mark. NITE advises checking not only the PSE mark but also the name of the registered business printed near it.
Check recall information before buying and regularly while you use a product. NITE points people to its NITE SAFE-Lite service for this.
Checklist
- Your power banks show the PSE mark and a business name
- The model numbers are not subject to a recall
- No unit is swollen or misshapen
Charging, storage and swollen batteries
NITE recommends charging in a safe place where you can keep an eye on the device, and avoiding charging while you are out or asleep. Use the specified charger. When storing a power bank unused for a while, avoid keeping it fully charged where possible.
If you notice anything unusual, such as swelling or deformation, stop using it. NITE advises placing it in a non-flammable container such as a metal tin or an earthenware pot and asking the shop or maker for advice. If one catches fire, first make sure you are safe, then put it out with an extinguisher or plenty of water; if that is not possible, call 119.
Disposal: keep batteries out of household rubbish
Lithium-ion battery products put out with burnable or non-burnable rubbish can start fires in rubbish trucks and processing plants. The Consumer Affairs Agency recommends using up the charge before disposal, covering the terminals with insulating tape, and checking your municipality's rules or the maker's take-back scheme.
JBRC, an industry recycling body, collects products from its member companies through participating shops and municipalities. Power banks designed to charge phones and similar devices should be handed in whole; do not take them apart to remove the battery. Swollen, damaged or water-damaged units, and products from non-member makers, are not accepted, so ask your municipality in those cases.
Taking one on a plane
From 24 April 2026 the transport ministry applied new rules to domestic flights and flights to and from Japan. Each passenger may carry up to two power banks of 160Wh or less in the cabin, and is asked not to charge a power bank on board or use one to charge other devices. As before, power banks may not go in checked baggage, and since July 2025 passengers are asked to keep them at hand rather than in the overhead bin. On foreign airlines, check that airline's guidance as well.
Power bank safety, step by step
- Look for the PSE mark
- Check the registered business name
- Check recalls by model number
- Charge where you can see it
- Not while out or asleep
- Stop using it if it swells
→ Use a non-flammable container
- Keep it out of household rubbish
- Tape over the terminals
- Hand it in whole; do not take it apart
→ Check your local rules
- Up to two, 160Wh or less
- Do not charge or use on board
- Keep at hand, not in the overhead bin
→ Not in checked baggage
Points to watch
Do not choose on price alone; pick products that clearly show the registered business name and a support contact. If your workplace lends out power banks, set a day to inspect them all together so none is missed.
One thing to check today
Gather the power banks at home or at work and check three things: the PSE mark, any swelling, and recalls.