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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Fears of exploding parking sensors has prompted the New Plymouth District Council to replace or disable more than 500 of its 1,600 sensors.
It has emerged that the lithium batteries in the devices are spontaneously burning, causing them to explode.
At least two sensors exploded in the city recently and the council was quick to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
The sensors are attached to the ground and communicate with the parking attendant’s handheld devices to alert them when a vehicle has stayed longer than their welcome.
A problem with the sensors first surfaced this month and electronics company AD Riley replaced 62 units.
But then another “malfunctioned” and another 440 were disabled.
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In a statement, the district council said this “was a precautionary measure in the interest of public safety,” but did not elaborate.
When pressed, it revealed that the batteries were overheating, providing an ignition source that caused “the sensor to break into fragments.”
Chief Executive Craig Stevenson this afternoon got rid of the euphemisms and explained exactly what happened.
“A faulty lithium battery vents and pressure builds up inside the sensor. It was higher than it should be, so the top of the sensor was lifted.
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“We’ve had two different circumstances so far, one where it’s like a minor explosion, I suppose you would characterize it, and the other was more like a strong explosion.”
He said a recently applied waterproofing gel had prevented faulty batteries from releasing pressure.
But it wasn’t the first time a parking sensor in New Plymouth had exploded. In 2013, Rachael Walker and her daughter Susanne were shopping in Strandon when a sensor exploded under their car and smoke spread through the Nobs line.
Walker, whose car had to be towed, told the media at the time that it was like “a bomb going off.”
Stevenson said the concern for public safety was genuine.
“The risk is that, you know, someone might have been too close when the top of the sensor came off. I think it’s fair to say there were chances of injury and of course public safety is our top priority and that’s why that we have moved very fast and the company has been outstanding and also very fast. “
He said all of the faulty batteries had already been removed and the rest would be checked and replaced over time.
Councilor Murray Chong has long criticized the introduction of smart meters.
“We want to get the best, but it’s unproven. I think we spent $ 600,000 or $ 700,000 to replace them a few years ago and then we had to replace them again a couple of years ago and now these are playing around so when do we learn our lesson? we should have changed until we had proven technology. “
Robin Martin / RNZ
Councilmember Murray Chong says the technology should never have been fully installed until it has been tested.
He said lithium batteries were a known risk factor.
“For example, if you take a mobile phone and pierce it, the simple fact that the air reaches a lithium battery will cause it to spontaneously burn, so it is scary if that is what happens with our parking sensors and the batteries inside “.
On the streets of New Plymouth, people weren’t too impressed to hear that parking sensors could explode.
Michelle had reason to be concerned.
“I’m parked over one of those sensors, so I hope it doesn’t ‘fragment’ under my car.”
Teresa Bloeman could imagine the possibility of injury.
“Even if there’s a car parked on top or, you know, someone walks past it. It’s dangerous either way.”
Richard could imagine something worse.
“It must be a risk because if you have a leaking fuel tank or a little oil on the road, there is going to be an explosion, it’s not there … probably.”
Unfortunately, Stevenson said the sensor issue didn’t mean shoppers could enjoy free parking before Christmas.
“The bad news is that they won’t know which ones we are replacing, which ones we have turned off right now, so they should continue to power the meters as they normally do.
“This is a very short term problem, we will change them next week at the latest and then the company will go through and update all batteries in the entire batch as a later phase.”
New Plymouth’s 1600 sensors and 90 built-in payment machines were installed in 2012 at a cost of $ 1.2 million.
In 2017, sensors were found not to communicate properly with guards’ devices, so last year 1,500 units were replaced at an additional cost to taxpayers of $ 800,000.
AD Riley is paying the bill for the current repairs.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
