Electric Vehicles – the Nitro Glycerine of the Transportation World?
Electric Vehicles – the Nitro Glycerine of the Transportation World?
Essay by Eric Worrall
A few years ago I called 2021 the year the EVs burned. But a quick review of last year’s horror show of EV fire incidents suggests my assessment may have been premature.
EV fires remind industry of associated risk
By Teresa Moss on January 5, 2024
InsuranceElectric vehicles (EVs) appear to have caused multiple fires at manufacturing factories in recent months, sparking a reminder about EV safety.
Most recently, the Detroit Fire Department responded to a three-alarm fire involving lithium-ion batteries at General Motors’ Factory Zero last month, according to Detroit Free Press.
“Our initial investigation indicates a forklift accidentally punctured a container with battery materials, causing the fire,” Tara Stewart Kuhnen, GM spokeswoman, said in an email Wednesday.
The newspaper also reported another fire at the property in October that involved an autonomous electric car. It states the fire department’s report mentions a battery fire.
However, Kuhnen told the newspaper that a non-battery-related component caused the second fire.
Outside Detroit, the Auburn Hills Fire Department responded to a November fire at Chrysler’s Tech Center.
Multiple media reports say Chrysler’s fire involved an EV as well.
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Read more: https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2024/01/05/ev-fires-remind-industry-of-associated-risk/
There have been a lot of articles about EV fires in 2023;
‘Massive Problem’: Sky News host criticises sudden EV fires
Model 3 catches fire near Goulburn, as discarded MG battery destroys five cars at airport
Incident at Chinese EV battery plant: Fire during test run sparks safety fears
Electric Vehicle Catches Fire in Middle of The Road, Causing Traffic Jam
7 Battery Electric Cars a Day Catch Fire in China: The Most Involved Brands
Four die in Volkswagen EV fire after crash, fueling safety debate
Why electric vehicles are being written off over minor battery damage
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There are a lot more where they came from.
Defenders of EVs claim gasoline vehicle fires are far more likely, though given a lot of gasoline vehicles on the road are quite old, I’m not sure they are comparing like for like;
Do electric cars pose a greater fire risk than petrol or diesel vehicles?
The first in a series exploring the myths and realities surrounding EVs
Jasper Jolly @jjpjollyMon 20 Nov 2023 17.00 AEDT
When a fire ripped through a car park at Luton airport last month it set off a round of speculation that an electric vehicle was to blame. The theory was quickly doused by the Bedfordshire fire service, which said the blaze appeared to have started in a diesel car.
Yet the rumour refused to be quelled, spreading on social media like, well, wildfire. Even when these stories are patiently debunked, they come back as zombie myths that refuse to die.
Electric vehicles (EVs) will not deliver the environment from damage but international climate forecasters agree they are a crucial part of the transition from fossil fuels. The Guardian has spoken to experts and looked for hard data where possible to address some of the most common criticisms of electric vehicles.
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“All the data shows that EVs are just much, much less likely to set on fire than their petrol equivalent,” said Colin Walker, the head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank. “The many, many fires that you have for petrol or diesel cars just aren’t reported.”
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On the other hand, EV and gasoline fires are not equal. The Australian maritime authority in 2023 warned ferries about the danger of EVs.
DCV Safety Alert 02/2023 – Risks Associated with the Carriage of Battery Electric Vehicles
This safety alert aims to raise awareness of the risks involved with the carriage of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) on roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferries.
Purpose
This safety alert provides guidance to operators of domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) on risks associated with the carriage of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) on roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferries, and how best to deal with these risks.
Risk assessment
As per Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation and operation requirements) you must conduct a risk assessment for your vessel to ensure that risks arising from the carriage of BEVs are addressed.
Consideration must be given to the hazards arising from transporting BEVs and a vessel specific procedure developed for the prevention and mitigation of fire incidents involving BEVs.
New risks identified in relation to BEVs
Some risks associated with BEV fires onboard DCVs include:
High voltage shocks
Direct jet flames
Fires develop in intensity quickly and rapidly reach their maximum intensity (typically within 2-3 minutes)
Toxic gases
Gas explosion (if the released gas accumulates for a while before being ignited)
Long lasting re-ignition risk (can ignite or re-ignite weeks, or maybe months after the provoking incident)
Once established fires are difficult to stop/extinguish
Thermal runaway
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EVs seem to pose a particular problem for ships. Ships have been destroyed by uncontrollable EV fires – automatic fire suppression systems which work on gasoline and diesel fires are helpless to extinguish EV fires, as the Felicity Ace discovered in 2022.
The Genius Star XI fire lithium battery fire was somehow brought under control in the last week, the ship is currently anchored near Dutch Harbour, Alaska, though the ship is still subject to a one mile safety exclusion zone.
I once survived a vehicle fire, caused by a gasoline tank leak. The vehicle was a write-off, but the intensity of the fire was nothing like some of the EV fires we’ve seen. I was first alerted to the fire by other drivers, I had time to pull over, and after I pulled over I had a good 90 seconds to get out of the vehicle before the cabin started filling with smoke. It wasn’t obvious the vehicle would be a write-off until the fire had been burning for 5 minutes, and the intensity finally grew to the point it was obvious the vehicle would be destroyed. Even so, I retrieved an old plastic Apple MacBook from the trunk of the vehicle. After drying the laptop for a few months, I managed to get it to boot long enough to rescue files I hadn’t backed up (lesson learned).
To be fair, the laptop may have been protected a little by some bottled water we had in the trunk, but I doubt a few bottles of water would have saved my laptop from an EV fire.
Compare this experience to a small electric vehicle fire. Bear in mind the battery on this electric scooter is minuscule compared to the battery on a full size electric automobile.
You don’t need a collision or impact to damage EV batteries. A hard frost can permanently damage an EV battery, though I have no data on whether frost damage is as dangerous in terms of fire risk as collision damage.
Are EVs more dangerous than gasoline vehicles? Despite my personal experience of a gasoline vehicle fire, I believe the answer is yes, given the maritime authority warning, the speed and ferocity of EV fires, the writing off of EVs after even minor collisions, and the apparent inability of normal fire suppression systems to douse EV fires – even if claims that gasoline fires are more common are true.
Good one! We are connected via Quantum Entanglement.
See post on UK electric ferry boat fails, notwithstanding EV cargo ship sinkings!
https://tucoschild.substack.com/p/electric-ferry-boat-batteries-fail