1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Has anyone's Lithium Ion Prius caught fire?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Chippingawayatlife, Jan 6, 2017.

  1. Chippingawayatlife

    Chippingawayatlife Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2016
    159
    116
    0
    Location:
    San jose
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A Prius C (NiMH) was on fire last year. I'm not sure if it was arson or something else. I'm not sure I'm allowed to post a picture of it here. It makes me wonder about the Lithium I have. Have there been any reports?
     
  2. bbald123

    bbald123 Thermodynamics Law Enforcement

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2007
    386
    271
    0
    Location:
    Harrisburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Bluegrassman likes this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there was one posted yesterday, i think it was a 2016, not sure. there haven't been any pip fires that i know of.
     
  4. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That 2016 Trim 4 was not due to the Li-Ion battery. It was related to the engine block heater.
    Prius Caught on Fire | PriusChat
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that remains to be seen, but if the battery is intact, yes.:)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The damage looks to be contained to under the former hood & reformed front end.
     
  7. Kremtok

    Kremtok Smug Alert!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2008
    100
    74
    0
    Location:
    Homer, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    In my case, linked above, the lithium battery is presumably unaffected. I made absolutely sure the first responders knew that it had a lithium ion battery, but since they saw no hot spots on their thermal imaging camera (TIC) they weren't concerned about it.

    During the preliminary investigation they didn't want to disturb the car to the extent that it would be necessary to inspect the traction battery, but that may change during the more formal phase of the investigation. The 12V battery is melted away quite a bit, though.
     
    alanclarkeau, bisco and Prodigyplace like this.
  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    One reason TOYOTA Ni-MH Batteries have had such longevity is because they aren't stressed - they are managed to only operate well less than full charge, and won't go into low discharge. Being HYBRID allows them to effectively operate within this restricted charge/discharge regime. TOYOTA has done much the same thing with Li-ION batteries too.

    Something I read about the infamous SAMSUNG phones was that they used a much larger operating charge/discharge scope - presumably to get longer battery life. There were other factors too.
     
    RCO likes this.
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i'm not sure if there has ever been a prius battery fire period. a lot of them seem to be coming from headlight wiring.
     
    RCO likes this.
  10. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Please don't tell me the lithium-ion battery in the Prius, is going to turn out like the Samsung cell phones!

    (I knew I should've bought that nice big Chevy Silverado pick up! :D)
     
    thatoneraccoon likes this.
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...a PiP fire was reported here last week or so, the first one we heard.
    The guy did not say much but posted a pic. Some thought it was a troll.
    A few PiPs on Toyota's NJ dock caught fire in Hurricane Sandy in 2012 due to salt water flooding.
    At the same dock a whole bunch of Fisker Karmas burned up.
     
    Bluegrassman and alanclarkeau like this.
  12. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No, I wouldn't worry at all - as I said above #8, it was partly to do with SAMSUNG's design, but more to do with the stress they placed on the charge/discharge cycle, unlike PRIUS which is very gentle in comparison.
     
    Coast Cruiser likes this.
  13. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks, Alan. But just in case, I'm going to keep a pack of shrimp in the refrigerator. I will be ready to throw some shrimp on the barbi, mate!
     
    RCO and trescenzi like this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    a pip? did i miss this? (or am i having another senior moment.(n))
     
  15. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My sister is driving her old (2002?) Avalon in -13 degree weather in Montana. She's never used an engine heater blanket, or a block heater. I still say the older Toyotas were the best made.
     
    bisco likes this.
  16. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Does this reply look familiar to you, Bisc? I rest my case...but I understand how it could happen(y)

    This thread-
    Prius's spontaneously catching on fire?
     
    bisco and alanclarkeau like this.
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i was afraid of that.:oops:

    found it, december 24th, post #135, pic of the burned car, but no update on the 'investigation'.

    ever wonder why so many fires have one post, and no proof?(n)
     
    #17 bisco, Jan 7, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2017
  18. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I have only heard of one occasion where the LiOn batts in the PIP were the cause of an actual fire. It occurred to several brand new ones parked at the port of entry that were swamped by seawater during Super Storm Sandy.

    So, just don't Cruise too close to the Coast and you should be fine. (see what I did there?) :LOL: :rolleyes:
     
  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...and don't use "(n)" too often...just a thought:D
     
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  20. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,979
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Cars catch fire on occasion. Luckily not very often. Which makes me wonder why anyone would actually paint flames on one. ;)
    Anyway, Prius or any other model don't have a lock on the fire thing.

    Kind of makes a detached garage look like a "good idea" (tm).