[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by AndyMD

Don't ICE engines still have batteries that can malfunction and catch file?

Lead acid batteries don't suffer from thermal runaway risk unlike Lithium-ion cells. Lithium is one of the most reactive metals around hence the risk of essentially spontaneous combustion.

[jenshb]

A fire requres three "components"; combustible material, high temperature and oxygen. Fossil fuelled car fires can be put out by denying the fire the oxygen, but lithium batteries generate their own oxygen when on fire which makes them very hard to put out. That is why the fire brigades dunk the whole EV in a water container and leave it for a few days to kill the fire. A fossil fuelled car fire doesn't have to be catastrophic provided it is extinguished in time, but an EV fire will lead to a total loss one way or another. The serious consequences of an EV catching fire is the reason why Havila (one of the operators of the Hurtigruten) do not allow EVs on their ships.

[RobUK]

Latest news is that it was closer to 500 EVs on the Fremantle Highway and not 25 as first reported (out of a total 0f 3,783). All vehicles were brand new.

More electric cars than first thought on board burning Fremantle Highway

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by AndyMD

Don't ICE engines still have batteries that can malfunction and catch file? Especially if they are in a big tin can, heating up in the hottest weather we've had recently? I'm sure even my AA's say don't store above 40 degrees C. There were at least 6,000 sets of keys also in a hot tin can within the hotter tin can all with a battery in them, plus the 2,975 12v ones under the bonnet

I’m not a battery expert but I don’t think sealed batteries can explode as they don’t emit hydrogen like lead acid batteries do (can?). Even in the case of lead acid batteries it’s typically a venting malfunction that causes a source of ignition if the hydrogen isn’t dissipated properly.

I think you’d be going some, even with the recent heatwave, to get the cargo decks of ships over 40 degrees but assuming so, I’d be expecting every car in Greece to be combusting this week if heat alone was the culprit.

The keys would have lithium batteries in them.

Even if we assume for one moment EV and ICE batteries can catch fire equally, lithium batteries fires aren’t really fires but explosions, not slow burning. Their fumes are also highly toxic and they are difficult to extinguish - much more so than lead acid.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by jenshb

That is why the fire brigades dunk the whole EV in a water container and leave it for a few days to kill the fire. .

Just the messenger… I asked SIL about what his crew do with an EV fire to see if they did anything different. He said they just plug the (fire) engine to the hydrant and let the thing run. I think his exact words were something the like, “use shit loads of water”.
Surprised me TBH given the effect of water on lithium but as others have noted, it takes the heat down (and limits oxygen) with the aim of breaking the chain reaction.

[KRS_SN]

As an ev owner afaik EV fires are a different kettle of fish to ice fires..the fire may well have started on an ice on the ship. Once the ev catches fire as a consequence its game over for the ship. Police bmw cars with 100000 miles and high speed chases and long time idling are not a good comparison. We have to be objective. Still wouldn't put me off an EV...

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

As an ev owner afaik EV fires are a different kettle of fish to ice fires..the fire may well have started on an ice on the ship. Once the ev catches fire as a consequence its game over for the ship. Police bmw cars with 100000 miles and high speed chases and long time idling are not a good comparison. We have to be objective. Still wouldn't put me off an EV...

Have to agree. I don’t think EVs are anymore likely to combust than an ICE vehicle so that and and the nature of an EV fire wouldn’t put me off buying either.

However, on my checklist of things I consider when buying a car, fire risk is pretty low down

[Pond]

Originally Posted by Pentland

However, on my checklist of things I consider when buying a car, fire risk is pretty low down

Good point! I don't remember seeing marks out of 10 for fire safety in any "Auto Express" reviews!

Reminds of a recent story:
Young lad of 17 we know bought his first car, a tatty old Corsa (of course) and learned to drive in it. On one lesson with his mum, the dashboard started smoking. They stopped and got out. Within 10 minutes the whole front of the car was ablaze. Fire service had to put it out. Turns out it was something to do with the heater fan motor (IIRC) and was quite a common issue.
Worse part is he had to claim on his insurance, so has a 'marker' at just 17. Passed his test about a month later and couldn't get insurance for less than £5,000 p/a!
Poor kid!

[Pentland]

Saw this today and although it relates to an e-bike, you can only imagine if a EV battery exploded.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66304564

[TimMcC]

Although the investigation continues, it doesn't look likely that an EV caused the fire:

https://thedriven.io/2023/08/14/sorr...electric-cars/

[JustChris]

Devastating news!