EV truth or urban legends?

[Coyote Chris]

Saw a youtube vid of a blue EV burning in the pax compartment. The video is taken by a bystander talking with the driver, supposidly. The driver is telling the bystander that when the vehicle caught fire, nothing worked...not the door locks...not the windows. He had to kick out the side window to get out. Can this be true?

Watch: Tesla Model Y catches fire while on the move, driver struggles to escape

Driver of the ablaze Tesla Model Y had to break the window to escape from the burning vehicle.

auto.hindustantimes.com

Saw this on the news. There is pleanty of salt damage to NTs in merry old England due to the salty air. Cars ride WA state ferries all the time with salt spray and air. (My cruise ship rooms are typically on deck 7 and even they can get salty) Seems like this is a recipe for disaster and note just submerged EVs.

Firefighters battle electric car fire for hours at Nissan HQ, used 45K gallons of water

This EV fire required an estimated 45,000 gallons of water, and multiple units, including an engine, tower, battalion chief, rescue, hazmat and an air response vehicle.

www.wsmv.com

 

[DirtFlier]

It appears that enough EVs have caught fire without explanation so it's more than an urban myth. Sometimes it has occurred while the vehicle was sitting in a closed garage!

 

[mikesim]

The incidence of EV fires is more than just a random event. In spite of the EV industry's claims, the lithium ion battery chemistry is still not well understood. The resulting fires are fierce and cannot be easily extinguished by conventional means. IMHO, the uncertainties of an EV preclude any advantage of ownership at this time.

Mike

 

[DirtFlier]

Using 45,000 gals of water in the TV news clip seems a bit extreme. Perhaps fire trucks need to carry the fire-retardant foam used at airports?

 

[karl]

JP or jet fuel is more like diesel or kerosene, burning metals tend to be hot.

 

[mikesim]

JP or jet fuel is more like diesel or kerosene, burning metals tend to be hot.

Yes! If you have ever seen phosphorus rounds in action or a sodium or magnesium fire, it's impressive.

Mike

 

[ST1100Y]

Sometimes it has occurred while the vehicle was sitting in a closed garage!

What I fear happening in our building complex garage...
Those things burn hot enough to destroy the concrete ceiling and structure, hence impair the entire building section above...
And how to get this scolding pile of plastic and batteries out the sub-level garage in the fist place? The city firefighters rarely have mining machines (build for operating in narrow spaces with low ceilings) around to haul that burning crap out...

 

[Frosty]

... as I recall there was a disastrous mountain tunnel fire ... add electric vehicle batteries ...