While lithium in batteries can be useful, the scale of the battery or facility appears related to the risk. While we use these lithium bombs, it is important - perhaps even critical - that those involved with use, handling, and manufacturing be better trained on the risk and risk mitigation. Yes, that means the vehicles should be sold only with a training program. The cost of dealing with the fires is loaded onto taxpayers but I believe should go back to the owner of the failed battery. The awareness of the danger and risk is downplayed by manufacturers and the regulatory agencies - which is truly absurd.
Another story for the files of who didn’t see this coming.
I would note that the fact that these fires are the result of spontaneous combustion (rather than arson, a fire from a carelessly tossed cigarette, etc.) is ignored and swept under the rug. And, is the frequency of the spontaneous combustion fires related to EVs making the evening news on lamestream media? $100 says they are not. It’s like the Wizard of Oz, “there’s nothing to see here.”
Can someone explain how the battery simply catches fire when not connected to a power source? I thought the fire issue was due to overcharging and therefore overheating. These “dead” batteries due to decommissioning is a new risk I had not considered.
In a comment to another article, I saw an explanation about whisker style filaments forming inside the batteries when they are at low charge. Under the right (or wrong) circumstances these can form a conductive path that shorts the battery and ignites the contents. Or something along those lines.
While lithium in batteries can be useful, the scale of the battery or facility appears related to the risk. While we use these lithium bombs, it is important - perhaps even critical - that those involved with use, handling, and manufacturing be better trained on the risk and risk mitigation. Yes, that means the vehicles should be sold only with a training program. The cost of dealing with the fires is loaded onto taxpayers but I believe should go back to the owner of the failed battery. The awareness of the danger and risk is downplayed by manufacturers and the regulatory agencies - which is truly absurd.
My old '79 Websters : "Lithium: a soft silver-white element of the alkali group that is used ...
esp. in nuclear reactions..." Hmmm.
I guess this is one way to recycle batteries into something else.
How many data points do we need to quantify risk?
Another story for the files of who didn’t see this coming.
I would note that the fact that these fires are the result of spontaneous combustion (rather than arson, a fire from a carelessly tossed cigarette, etc.) is ignored and swept under the rug. And, is the frequency of the spontaneous combustion fires related to EVs making the evening news on lamestream media? $100 says they are not. It’s like the Wizard of Oz, “there’s nothing to see here.”
Can someone explain how the battery simply catches fire when not connected to a power source? I thought the fire issue was due to overcharging and therefore overheating. These “dead” batteries due to decommissioning is a new risk I had not considered.
In a comment to another article, I saw an explanation about whisker style filaments forming inside the batteries when they are at low charge. Under the right (or wrong) circumstances these can form a conductive path that shorts the battery and ignites the contents. Or something along those lines.
Geez if that’s the case, how are they ever made safe for storage? And why don’t the batteries for our tools and other electronics catch fire randomly?