| A major backlash has greeted news in America that | | | | powered by less readily available and hence, more |
| a government department is planning to severely | | | | expensive, power sources. |
| tighten rules surrounding the shipment of small | | | | Airline passengers would be affected too, as rules |
| battery-powered items of electronic equipment. Many | | | | banning spare lithium-ion batteries in checked-in |
| experts have said that this is going to cause serious | | | | luggage would also be extended to alkaline and nickel |
| problems for customers and that a lot of repacking | | | | metal-hydride batteries. Many of us take batteries on |
| may well be necessary. | | | | holidays with us as they are a useful item to have |
| Some electrical items may even have to undergo | | | | with us for our toiletries such as electric toothbrushes |
| long-term modifications to ensure that they comply | | | | to an array of other products. |
| with the directives, experts in the electrical and | | | | It would surely be more efficient and hassle free for |
| electronic goods industry believe. The concern arises | | | | passengers if there was simply an reenforcement of |
| out of plans to eliminate an exception currently | | | | existing rules. The proposed changes would affect |
| granted to alkaline and nickel metal-hydride batteries | | | | everything from power tools to defibrillators and |
| in rules which ban lithium-ion batteries from being | | | | iPads. Even button battery-powered hearing aids |
| carried in checked-in luggage carried in the holds of | | | | would be impacted which seem to be taking it a bit |
| ships and aircraft. | | | | too far. |
| This would mean passengers would be prevented | | | | And by making the U.S. subject to tighter restrictions |
| from taking a range of devices, from hand-held | | | | than those which are in force by the International |
| games consoles to laptop computers, on board in | | | | Civil Aviation Organization that governs the rest of |
| hand luggage. The move is being promoted by the | | | | the world, it will require manufacturers and shippers |
| U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and | | | | to make sweeping, costly changes to how they |
| Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), | | | | package, label and ship consumer electronics and |
| and would involve all devices powered by a lithium | | | | computer goods. |
| battery of less than 100 watt-hours capacity. | | | | Under the amended rules, all electronic goods will |
| Opponents of the plans believe it would mean many | | | | either have to be placed in an aircraft's cargo hold, so |
| laptop or smartphone manufacturers having to | | | | long as it is fitted with fire suppression systems, or, if |
| redesign their products to use alternative power | | | | this is not the case, be carried where pilots could get |
| sources, and fear that people who need to transport | | | | access to them should a fire break out. |
| their devices by sea or air would have to buy ones | | | | |