Electric Motorcycle Fire

[DIGGER]

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/VM7zEFUckdPnSQ9Y/?mibextid=rYkE1A

[old2soon]

       Near bout as much flame as you'd get from a jet in afterburner! So a full sized ev with lithium batteries IS Maybe a rolling pyrotechnic hazard? IF I had an ev M/C-I do NOT nor do I desire one-and something like that happened my entire shop most likely would be consumed in the fire!    RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  Environmentally friendly emissions. 

                                      da prez

[Jersey mike]

Dang, I was actually expecting liftoff.

I hate to kickoff a huge thing here, but what will happen at recycling centers when all these gadgets become obsolete, broken and useless?

That’s a fire that would burn uncontrollably.

My opinion on cars, busses and trucks with lithium batteries is there should be or must be a fire suppression device…foam or whatever to keep this under control eif possible.

[old2soon]

      I've read Somewhere that it takes UNLIMITED Amounts of WATER to extinguish those lithium batterry fires. And being as most vehicle fires do NOT happen near unlimited water supplies! RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  The MO is a fire blanket. It contains the fire. Near impossible to put out.

                                        da prez

[F6Dave]

I rode by a Tesla fire back in May. I took the picture from at least 1/4 mile away and the smell was awful. It could be unhealthy breathing that stuff at close range.

As was mentioned they've figured out the best way to extinguish them is with a fire blanket. But this highway was still closed for hours, and a recent fire (truckload of batteries) in California closed I-15 for about a day.

On Colorado 83 near Parker yesterday I rode by a blazing white Tesla in the opposite lane. By the time I circled back to a side road for this picture there wasn't much left but the batteries, seat frames, and wheels. It burned for hours, starting a grass fire and closing the road in both directions.

Here are some better photos from the fire department. Apparently they extinguish these fires with an 'EV fire blanket'.

[cagrote]

  In my experience fighting these fires, the blanket helps contain the flames, but so far nothing extinguishes them.  We have filled the car with water and watched the flames push through and boil it away.  It cannot be suffocated or snuffed out by smothering.  The batteries are in airtight compartments, but when one cell ruptures and ignites they burn around 1200 degrees and cascade through all the cells.  The current way we address these fires is to let it burn itself out.  We spray water to keep the area around the car from burning, we've put over 10000 gal on a car before and it took 3 hrs before it was out.  The smoke coming off the fire is highly toxic and is responsible for several firefighters deaths.  The car industry denies most of these fires being related to battery failure, and work hard at keeping it out of the press.

[Jersey mike]

Is it fortunate or unfortunate there aren’t more fires happening…I mean like are all the Lithium powered gizmos out there just infernos waiting to happen?

[F6Dave]

Recently in Tulsa a dog chewed a lithium-ion battery pack and started a fire, heavily damaging the house.

[Jess from VA]

I only have lithium batteries in AA and AAA (for flashlights, electronics and such).  And have a small store of new ones in my basement utility room (well away from heat).

Are these a fire hazard too?  I'm serious.  I haven't read or heard anything about them starting fires. 

[GiG]

Jess: Absolutely, yes they are! Essentially when charging . What THEY Dony tell you is: Lirhium has a
Limited shelf -Life. Batts will take longer to charge and store less energy as they age. Charging poses real risks& water will not help much. Had much fun abusing Lion in recent years and causing thermal events due to overcharging, penetration, crushing, rapid discharge & other fun scenarios  ive been replacing my oldest Lion batts at home, but the replacements are crap, probably china made - not worth the $$$
Had several  happy dumb asses say “ Oh yeah, gasoline is combustible too!!!”  Uh huh - Ignorance iic bliss
Never ignited a single vehicle in 40 years of automotive research & testing but turned every battery pack  & several EVs into ashes, test lab in Buffalo no longer exists- we had 9 FD responses too late , they gone…

[GiG]

Semi-related:

Trenton Enginee Plant is idle / slated to close due to backlog of 21,000  ICE enginees, DCXsoon wants to make battery cars only, guess who will Not buy one???  - the UAW guys now jobless without income 
Trenton Enginee produced many of the iconic Mopar engines many will remember…  They Gone … 

[Jess from VA]

Gig. 

1) I don't recharge any Lion AA/AAA batteries; they go in something and when done they get replaced.  So if I never recharge them, are they otherwise safe to have in the house (and my telephones, flashlights and TV remote)?

2) My first W4 withholding job was at the Mobil gas station at W Jefferson and Van Horn roads, right down the street from that Trenton engine plant.  Some 56 years ago, I started pumping gas there at 15.  Had to thumb to work and home until I got my license and my first car (VW) (got both the day I hit 16).  Those engine plant guys gave us tremendous business (gas, tires and repairs).  Working the late shift in winter, on frigid nights, 2 of us would fire up the station truck (with big battery charger), and drive into the engine plant parking lot and charge guys 3$ to jump their old cars (often referred to in Detroit as ghetto cruisers, for all races of owners).  I'm sorry to hear it is closing.

I'm driving up to see my 94yo mom and brother in September (Belleville).     

[GiG]

Probably a wise approach… be aware… idle batteries  are known to spontaneous combust , Yeoww

My friend Dave is trash collector, his rig seems to catcha fire weekly  - one rig burned to the ground, totaled!


E been hanging at Humbug Marina where you could throw a rock off the dock & hit Grosse Ile, beautiful scenery, great food, if you make it to Belleville, lemme know, we can check out the renta- goat’s eating Ivy at the lake   

[Jess from VA]

Lithium batteries can catch fire even when not used, primarily due to internal short circuits, exposure to external heat sources, physical damage, and improper charging practices.

Of these causes, only an internal short circuit could be the cause of a fire as stored in my house.  Short of a house fire.

This seems a pretty remote possibility, but I want them out of my house.  I have some 35 AAA/AA, and of course they're all together.  If just one ignites, they could all ignite.  Call me paranoid, or careful. 

I have a decent amount of smokeless powder and primers for reloading and I'm not worried about them at all.  

[da prez]

  I watched a video of a AAA lithium battery unrolled and put in a bowl. Added water and it started on fire.

                                               da prez

[MarkT]

Lots of RV owners on FB boards promote converting their RV batteries from deep cycle lead-acid marine batteries to lithium for greater power density.  In fact my RV battery charge system with solar brags about automatic detection & support for Li battery installs. No thanks - I'll just manage with the safe old tech. I do have a dual fuel inverter generator if needed for boondocking meanwhile also have a subscription to full hookup RV parks across the country.  Have lots of battery tools, most are Li - that scares me enough. Not to mention laptops & cell phones. No I don't vape or otherwise ask for lithium fires. IMHO it would be best to store such batteries in an outbuilding - but I don't.  Have lots of fire extinguishers throughout - useless for Li fires.