> I could see a few reasons why power banks present a larger risk than phones/computers (battery capacity, quality control), but it seems like the 100Wh battery limit already covers one of these.

Yeah, and it's the other one that is the main problem. It is simply impossible to know the quality of a power bank by looking at it.

> China banned non-CCC certified (the equivalent to UL or CE)

And it costs nothing to stamp the logo as if you're certified without actually going through any certification. Powerbanks are almost expendable, and can be acquried from supermarkets, corner shops, airports, even night clubs. There are even disposable ones (horrible idea). The more complex and expensive the device (like a laptop), the more certain can you be that there will be at least some quality control. In a $5/5eur powerbank, which any one could potentially be, it's almost guaranteeed there would be none.

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fmajid 4 days ago | parent [-]

One deterrent is, in China corporate criminals are executed, like those who put melamine in infant formula.

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seanmcdirmid 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

> One deterrent is, in China corporate criminals are executed, like those who put melamine in infant formula.

At least in that case, no corporate executives were executed (I was living in China at the time so followed the case closely):

Those Executed:

Zhang Yujun: A farmer convicted of producing and selling over 770 tons of melamine-laced "protein powder" to dairy wholesalers.

Geng Jinping: A milk collection center manager who added the toxic powder to fresh milk before selling it to major dairies like the Sanlu Group.

Corporate Executives: The highest-ranking executive involved, Tian Wenhua (former chairwoman of Sanlu Group), was sentenced to life imprisonment rather than death. Other executives received prison terms ranging from 5 to 15 years.

Other Penalties: A third man, Gao Junjie, received a suspended death sentence (which typically commutes to life in prison), and several others received life sentences or long-term imprisonment.

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bilbo0s 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

That's awesome for consumers in China.

What about the rest of us?

That kind of fraud is oftentimes only a fine in many other nations.

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hdgvhicv 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Maybe we should get our governments to execute corporate criminals?

	▲	Ekaros 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		And stock holders. Too long they have gotten the profits, but suffered none of the losses personally from their own bank accounts.

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SoftTalker 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The Chinese fly internationally too. So there's some motivation to not have these in other countries.

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bilbo0s 4 days ago | parent [-]

Not really worried about the Chinese. As was pointed out, they just hang a sword of damocles over the head of every entrepreneur and engineer who even thinks about doing something like that.

What about power banks from India? Vietnam? Malaysia? Korea?

That's what I'm saying. If there are nations where you can get away with it, then those power banks can end up in Western, African or South American markets.

(I'm counting getting a fine, or paying a bribe, as getting away with it. I don't really consider those punishments that will provide sufficient deterrent.)

	▲	seanmcdirmid 4 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> What about power banks from India? Vietnam? Malaysia? Korea? 90% of powerbanks made are from mainland china. Worrying about powerbanks made outside of China is like worrying about guns made outside of the USA, theoretically possible, but those countries are so dominant and efficient in those fields that it is more of a "what if" rather than a real concern.
	▲	whatshisface 4 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		You can get away with it in the US, if you can get regulators to approve it.