Battery safety needs scrutiny

The safety of rechargeable lithium batteries that make today's mobile lifestyle possible - they are used to power notebook PCs, navigation equipment and cell phones, for example - needs to come under scrutiny in the wake of recent accidents.

Last week, LG Electronics said it is offering free safety checks and battery replacements for Z series notebook PCs that were sold between January and December 2007.

The move comes after two reported cases of notebook PC battery explosions. The rechargeable lithium batteries overheated. The batteries were made by LG Chemical. The move to offer free battery replacements is an attempt to allay customer anxieties over the safety of the notebook PCs and falls short of recalling the products as any safety investigation by a third party could take as long as six months.