I thought that it was the electrolyte that's flammable and the major part of the fire risk, that's why solid state batteries are a lot safer. Yes Lithium is a very reactive element and readily forms LiOH + H2 when you add water but the fire starts before the fire brigade add the water!
Evidence of EV battery fire risk
Overheard someone in the office today wittering about the risk of battery fires with EVs and how he thought no evidence was being made available in case it put the Government's 2030 target at risk.
I felt like countering this but realised I didn't have any actual evidence with which to do so. I realise EV batteries can suffer thermal runaway (LiFePo excluded?) but as far as I understand the batteries are well protected from fire risk and the actual incidence of EV fires is very low?
Would appreciate any links to good, straightforward evidence on the topic if it exists.
Thanks
I felt like countering this but realised I didn't have any actual evidence with which to do so. I realise EV batteries can suffer thermal runaway (LiFePo excluded?) but as far as I understand the batteries are well protected from fire risk and the actual incidence of EV fires is very low?
Would appreciate any links to good, straightforward evidence on the topic if it exists.
Thanks
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I don't think that it's fair to compare fires of lithium batteries and those of typical fossil fuels. They happen for different reasons and different conditions.
InsideEV's have done an article on it, which obviously advocates in favor of EV's. Op-Ed: Top 10 Causes of Automobile Fires - EV vs ICE
One of the main sources of fires on modern ICE vehicles is actually the 12V battery as car design has evolved to account for leaky pipes. The above pictures of a burned Range Rover / Bus seem to indicate that this is where the fire started. Ironically, fires caused by 12V batteries can be caused by hydrogen build up in the engine compartment.
An ICE parked in a garage is less likely to spontaneously combust than an EV that is charging.
Every car crash is also different, so some crashes will be more survivable in an EV than in an ICE and vice versa.
It's also difficult to come to definitive conclusions without decades of EV experience. Small data sets tend to be unreliable indicators.
InsideEV's have done an article on it, which obviously advocates in favor of EV's. Op-Ed: Top 10 Causes of Automobile Fires - EV vs ICE
One of the main sources of fires on modern ICE vehicles is actually the 12V battery as car design has evolved to account for leaky pipes. The above pictures of a burned Range Rover / Bus seem to indicate that this is where the fire started. Ironically, fires caused by 12V batteries can be caused by hydrogen build up in the engine compartment.
An ICE parked in a garage is less likely to spontaneously combust than an EV that is charging.
Every car crash is also different, so some crashes will be more survivable in an EV than in an ICE and vice versa.
It's also difficult to come to definitive conclusions without decades of EV experience. Small data sets tend to be unreliable indicators.
Nope. The rangie was just parked in the street. Happened to be next to the bus where it stopped. The bus fire was caused by a diesel fuel leak.The above pictures of a burned Range Rover / Bus seem to indicate that this is where the fire started.
Very logical. I work with aviaton and been working with for the last three decades. I am also a pilot. After this post I will propose that the authorities issue new directives to all pilots... "In case of emergency, don't try to land on the nearest airport. Land on sea, lake or any other terrain (not cultivated if possible) far from populated areas to avoid blocking the use of airport or causing more damage to property, goods or people." I think that would be a very good idea, we would save a lot of money and no airport or runway must be closed, not causing delays for anyone. I mean, the current directives of "land on nearest airport" must be totally wrong, isn't it...? Let's NOT try to save people, let's save costs instead.It avoids setting the terminal on fire and blocking it to other vessels.
Do you have any link to such stupid decision or directive...? I mean, some evidence of stupidity would be welcome. Or is this just another fake news created by ICE lovers..?They've introduced a new H&S regime on the Isle of Wight ferries: if a fire breaks out on an EV the protocol is not to try docking but to run the vessel aground. (They've been known to do that anyway!
41 - 45 of 45 Posts
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