By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter
The Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, said Tuesday that it has failed to find the exact causes of the recent laptop battery explosion or meltdown cases.
``We conducted 11 tests March 24-28 at a trial center of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in vain,’’ an official said.
The official said both LG Electronics’ ``Z1-A2007’’ and Samsung Electronics’ ``P10’’ laptops had not engulfed in fire even under unusual heat and pressure.
``In order to protect further battery-related accidents, we are considering the possibility of asking manufacturers to put up safety signs on laptops,’’ the official said, adding that the agency will conduct safety checks on mobile phones, car navigators and PMPs.
The result came a month after LG Electronics halted sales of the ``Z’’ series after a battery explosion. In a follow-up measure, LG offered to freely exchange laptop batteries that could melt or explode from overheating, though the company denied a possibility of a recall plan.
Samsung Electronics also said its ``P10’’ laptop model melted, causing a fire and the company cut the speculations over a recall plan as the company was awaiting the result of the investigation.
In 2007, Japanese electronics manufacturer Panasonic said it would spend between 10 billion and 20 billion yen recalling mobile phone batteries it made for Nokia, the world’s No. 1 handset manufacturer, over concerns that the batteries could overheat.