Whats wrong with new laptop batteries?
Apple and Dell laptops using Sony batteries have both caught fire (so much for all those bappleheads who claimed it was a 'PC' problem).
Anyone know why, all of sudden, it seems like this is happening?
Li-ion batteries
Li-ion batteries are fairly unstable. If you send them over a specified voltage and/or current limit they will vent in flame. In all lithium-ion applications the pack has a protection circuit which monitors the voltage, current and even temperature of the cells. If something goes wrong it disconnects the cell from the pack. This protection system is normally not needed though because there is usually another system controlling the charging and discharging of the pack and it knows the limits of the pack. The dangers of Li-ion aren't new so someone fucked up bad.
This is a company to keep your eye on:
They have developed a lithium-ion battery they is inherently stable by using "MIT nanotechnology". Of course everything is better with "MIT nanotechnology". One day I'm going to brew a beer using "MIT nanotechnology" and I'll be rich. There is also a cool video on this site which shows what happens when you drill into a normal Li-ion battery. If I had any money I would consider investing in these guys.
i know why
Poor quality control!