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A Lithium Ion ("Li-Ion") 18650 cell ("battery") purchase may be more than you bargained for. Counterfeit and recycled 18650 Lithium Ion batteries have been identified in one death, and a number of injuries and fires.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as of July 2016 there have been over 60 incidents in the United States where Lithium Ion batteries in hoverboards reportedly caught fire, destroying bedrooms and even entire homes, totaling over $2 million in property damage.

270 air/airport incidents involving lithium battery fires and smoke, carried as cargo or baggage, have been recorded. Three major aircraft accidents were reported where lithium battery cargo shipments were implicated.

Although the shipping of Li-Ion batteries has been regulated by various authorities and companies, counterfeiters continue to ship illegitimate batteries to the U.S. for use by consumers, for use both legitimate and counterfeit products.

A quick online search of Amazon (AMZN), eBay, (EBAY) and Walmart (WLMT) will show thousands of suspect "18650" batteries, the Lithium-Ion battery frequently used in laptops, flashlights, cameras, battery packs, hoverboards, e-cigarettes and many other consumer devices.

Most of the listings highlight the energy capacity in milli-amp hours (mAh) of the battery being offered; typical listings vary from 2,000 mAh to a ridiculous 12,000 mAh. Many consumers will gravitate to the higher capacity batteries incorrectly believing they will gain the longest use. Unfortunately, many of these claims are unsubstantiated, misleading, or completely fraudulent.

Authentic Li-Ion 18650 batteries from legitimate manufacturers have capacities under 3800mAh. The space inside the case of every 18650 battery for the battery components is the same, and the capacity varies considerably depending on the current draw.

Consumers are spending good money for bad products in which the capacities may have been grossly overstated, and the dangers understated.

The use of Li-Ion batteries is also revealing a previously unrecognized hazardous condition -- electronic cigarette and battery explosions in the users face and pockets. No other consumer product places a battery with a known explosion hazard such as this in such close proximity to the human body.

A 2017 report by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration concludes that "Lithium-ion batteries should not be used in e-cigarettes. While the number of batteries that explode and catch fire is statistically small, the catastrophic nature of the injuries that can occur warrants the use of another battery technology for e-cigarettes."

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