Featured Two dead in hybrid R&D fire

Incompetent engineers/technicians that didn't respect the energy stored in an EV battery.

JeffD

 

Won't it be great when battery production fires and EV / plug in fires match frequencies of Refinery fires & internal combustion auto fires? Once they reach the same ubiquitous level - things will be fine once again - because we'll have equal deaths, injuries, & loss of property. And that's what matters

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sounds like a foolish waste of money

 

Source: Experimental Hybrid Car's Explosion Leaves Researcher Dead, Student Injured

The pair, both with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) research institute, were rushed to the Antonio Cardarelli Hospital in a critical condition, newspaper la Repubblica reported. Prati had 90 percent burns, while Filace was burned across 70 percent of his body. On Monday, Italian news outlet Open Online said that Prati had died from her injuries.
...
Hybrid vehicles usually have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, with the batteries being charged via regenerative braking and using energy from the internal combustion engine. Electric and hybrid cars have exploded in the past on multiple occasions, frequently including Tesla models: as of November 2022, there are 44 known cases of deaths involving incidents of Tesla car fires. Hybrid cars are particularly prone to explosions and fires, due to the presence of a gasoline engine so close to the high-powered electric battery system.​

My sympathies for their families but it will take time for a definitive accident analysis. Given the extent of burns, 90% and 70%, it is likely the fossil fuel got on them. Alternatively, the door opening mechanism failed.

Bob Wilson

 

Actually most of the technology we use every day first got its start as a foolish waste of money that killed people. But once you work the bugs out....

 

We don't discuss it on here very often, but in general hybrid car fires are more common that ICE car fires, as well as more common than EV fires.

 

But does that include Toyotas? What about those of use with NiMH batteries?

 

The two I remember the electrical fire occurred in the connector that brings the battery voltage sense lines to the battery management assembly. There was a third where corroded pins in the plug showed evidence of over heating. But it would be nearly impossible to get an NiMH module to burn:

• electrolyte is a 6 molar (very concentrated) potassium hydroxide
• electrode materials are not ordinarily flammable
• the case might burn but is so thin around the electrode and electrolyte ... not likely to burn
• relatively low energy density, about 1/2 a LiON which limits how much heat is generated

Bob Wilson

 

Didn't realize my Prius had the engine mounted in the rear.

Exactly how more prone to fires are hybrids?

The 12 volt electrical system in all cars has been a note worthy source of fires through the years. I'm guessing just having another electrical grid in the hybrid adds to the fire risk. Flying also increases your risk of cancer. Is either of these something to worry about?

 

Lay reporters often leave a lot to be desired ... even automotive reviewers with a clue are hard to find. I won't try to defend their words as much as sharing. I've long since given up on subscribing to a publication so I can write a 'scathing' letter to the editor:



Bob Wilson

 

"Hey, let's get the government to start a cutting-edge, but potentially dangerous, research and development project!" Said no sane person ever!

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." --Ronald Reagan

 

Here's the most popular reply on Google:

"Hybrids reflected the most at 3,475 fires per 100,000 vehicles. This is most likely because hybrids utilize two powertrains. ICE vehicles caught fire substantially less often, at 1,530 incidents per 100,000 vehicles. EV fires were significantly lower than the others, with 25 fires per 100,000 vehicles." Are Electric Vehicles More Likely To Catch on Fire?

 

But you gotta admit the government has a pretty impressive track record when it comes to rocket science, as well as the ability to bomb whole countries back to the stone age in mass murder events soley for US oil companies to move in and set up their puppet government in the name of defending democracy.

 

Perhaps, and maybe Europe is different because of gas prices, but aftermarket motors and batteries would be a non starter in the USA