February 23rd, 2016
Dear MFS Customers,
This letter is to inform you of an important advisory from Sony Electronics, the manufacturer of the VTC4 and VTC5 batteries, regarding the use of these products in vaping devices.
Sony has stated that the VTC battery is not intended for use in any vaping/electronic cigarette device, and that the use of their batteries in such devices presents a danger of fire or explosion.
Sony has not indicated that the VTC batteries are faulty in any way, nor have they issued any recall on VTC batteries, however they have made clear that they are in no way responsible for improper use of their batteries in unapproved devices such as vaping box mods and mechanical mods.
Following our receipt of this letter, MyFreedomSmokes has decided to stop selling Sony VTC4 and VTC5 18650-size batteries. We also wish to inform you, as the owner of one or more VTC batteries, that you are solely responsible for how you choose to use your VTC battery or batteries. As a responsible and well-informed vaper, you should be aware of the risks associated with the use of high-amperage batteries in any application, including vaping. More information on 18650 battery safety is available here: http://onvaping.com/battery-safety-and-ohms-law/
Below is the letter from Sony Electronics in its entirety:
Sony Electronics Inc.
16535 Via Esprillo, San Diego, CA
92127
2/4/2016
Dear Sir/Madam:
It has come to our attention that you are offering, or have in the past offered, lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells, purportedly manufactured or supplied by Sony, for sale or use with e-cigarettes, vaporizer pens or other such products. Bona fide battery cells that are manufactured by Sony are at times commonly designated or known as Sony "VTC" battery cells. These battery cells were made only to be used in connection with the assembly of battery packs of products such as power tools, which have the necessary enclosure, protective devices and circuitry that enable safe usage of these battery cells. Sony lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells (including those with "VTC" designation) are not intended for use without such packaging or circuitry, and should not be used as a stand-alone product for instance with e-cigarettes, vaporizer pens or other products of any type.
The use of any Sony lithium ion rechargeable battery cells as a stand-alone product, including with e-cigarettes, vaporizer pens or other products, constitutes a DANGEROUS misuse of the battery cells that poses a SERIOUS RISK of personal injury or property damage. This matter is significant enough that the U.S. Fire Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, released a report (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/electronic_cigarettes.pdf) in October 2014 warning against the dangers involved with improper battery cell use, storage and charging of battery cells in e-cigarettes. See also a recent statement from the Consumer Technology Association on lithium ion battery safety available at http://www.ce.org/Consumer-Info/Battery-Safety.aspx. Accordingly, if you are currently selling or distributing stand-alone Sony lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells, other than in the condition and for the purpose originally intended by Sony, you must immediately cease doing so. Sony believes that you should also immediately notify any person to whom you have sold or supplied any stand-alone Sony lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells of the danger associated with the misuse of such battery cells and instruct them to immediately cease using and return the cells to you.
Please contact Sony's consumer product safety office at cps@am.sony.com should you have any questions or concerns.
Very truly yours,
Julio Posse
Director of Product Safety
