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Featured Hyundai Kona EV explodes in Montreal

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Sarge, Jul 27, 2019.

  1. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I find it interesting that his first move was to flip the breaker when he knew it wasn’t plugged in:cool:.

    Or at least he says:whistle:.

    We’ve seen car fires reported here before, so not the first and probably not the last(y).
     
  3. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Lol, that is a good point about the breaker.:rolleyes:

    Yeah, I have heard of fires, but explosions? It says the garage door was blown across the street. Strange.
     
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Lithium and water does have an exothermic reaction, which if contained could develop a pressure wave;).

    One possible cause(y).
     
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  5. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Probably for the insurance.o_O
     
    #5 ice9, Jul 27, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
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  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Having just bought the car in March, highly unlikely, but anything is possible:censored:.
     
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  7. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    No. For the house. I had it backwards anyhow. He would have pulled the plug for the insurance, not the circuit breaker.
     
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    we store a 200Lb propane tank in the garage, makes me consider moving it elsewhere.

    .
     
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  9. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Global warming?

    HALTEX (halt and explode) instruction in their software?

    Bob Wilson
     
  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Indoor storage of a decent volume of flammable material:whistle:?

    Is the tank easily moved?

    Sounds like a good idea to me(y).
     
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  11. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Are the batteries in the Kona up front?
    I am skeptical that this was a battery, or even the car.
    Especially since it wasn't plugged in and the damage seems focused on the front of the car.
    I think something else in the garage started it, perhaps they also had a 200Lb propane tank in the garage??

    It will be interesting to see the full report.
     
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  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I can’t think of a place where that wouldn’t have the fire marshal breaking out in a cold sweat. Even a 1lb camping gas cylinder with a slow leak can fill up that space with an explosive mix. Then the relay in the electric overhead door opener provides the spark and you’ve got a big bang.
     
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    But this isn’t a problem unless there is:
    1. A leak OR
    2. A source of heat that can heat the storage tank to a high enough pressure causing the relief valve on the tank to activate, releasing propane into the enclosed space since it isn’t outdoors
    The full report will probably be enlightening though into our speculations(y).
     
  14. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    That is a very good point. The photos seem to suggest the burn was focused on the front of the car, not the underside or back, where the battery would be (not sure on that vehicle).

    Is there any part of an electrical motor that would be considered an explosion risk? Seems odd.

    I wonder if it could be sabotage or something malicious, does this guy have enemies? ;-)
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe they have the prius headlight wiring issue
     
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Unintended acceleration in all directions.

    Bob Wilson
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seriously? :eek: ours are required to be 20' from the house

    even my sil's 20 lb tank burned her house down from the deck
     
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  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    in Montana we kept the big Propane Supply in the barn, a good hundred fifty feet away from the house. In SoCal? Tiny postage stamp Lots with homes stacked like dominoes? Not many places to keep it. We do have a little 'flammable' cabinet for all of the paints, gasoline, & solvents in a shed outside the house. WAY too small for a tank of that caliber.
    Only gave this a little bit of thought over the years - until the above OP's post - rationalizing propane is a heavy gas, it would vent out the bottom of the garage door, or the Lower Side vents that keep people from asphyxiating on carbon monoxide. Both the tankless water heater & other ignition sources are up 6' to 10' high. Still ...... time to move this up the to do list a bit.
    .
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    put it as close to your neighbors house as possible, they'll thank you for it
     
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Who schedules their leaks? The whole issue with gas is the leak you don’t know you have. Gas cylinders stored outside can almost always disperse the gas safely in case of any leak or venting.
     
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