Factory Fire Sparks a Worldwide Laptop Battery Shortage

Last month, LG Chem Ochang plant experienced a fire that made them to halt production of its much needed batteries for Dell, HP and Asustek. The three companies have raised prices from its batteries and is expected to further increase prices until the plant is back on track. Like dell cpi r laptop battery many of us expect, consumers desperate for Dell, HP, Asustek and batteries are struggling to find alternative solutions.

"We sell battery packs. The prices of those battery packs for people ordering extra batteries have gone up," said Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn, who declined to say by how much.

He added that Dell is "not commenting on what impact, if any, this is having on the prices of our products," referring to notebook PCs.

"The industry is experiencing difficulties in the supply of the battery due to these issues," said Blackburn. "Therefore, pricing is being impacted by current availability. But we are working with our partners throughout our supply chain to reduce the impact on our customers.

LG Chem is the largest manufacturer of the battery in the second of South Korea. The fire has contributed to the shortage of batteries worldwide that could affect up to 40 percent of second quarter shipments of Asustek Computer, Taiwans No. 2 PC maker, an Asustek executive told Reuters.

The exact cause of the fire is unknown, however, most likely linked to the explosive reaction of lithium in the air. LG Chem is expected to make a comeback in May, but do not count as anything can happen. For the moment, prices for laptop battery OEM battery packs of Dell, HP and Asustek have increased everywhere, even here in AtBatt.com. A fall in supply, many consumers may have trouble finding the battery packs at this time. The question is: Buy the battery packs now? Or buy later and the risk of going beyond ... price

After last year's long string of battery re-calls, this may be the first time that the batteries catch on fire before they are put into their laptops.