Source: Large lithium batteries should never be shipped as tightly as ICE vehicles. But it draws attention to a latent design defect of EV traction batteries ... the absence of a battery "flood" port. One of the better EV fire tools is a very high pressure, water wand. Effectively a "water jet" cutting tool on a wand, it can cut into the battery case and then flood the cells. Once water cooled, the EV fire effectively goes away. Speculation, two "water jet" ports on either side of an EV would likely solve the problem. This would let fire fighting crews quickly flood the pack with enough water to stop thermal runaway. It still requires prompt removal to a disassembly yard equipped to handle a battery run-away. Not trivial but necessary for public safety. So I have two EVs and a solar roof, buffer battery. The two cars are parked several feet away from the house. But the battery is mounted on the exterior, shady side of kitchen wall. Fire risk, yes, but I also have natural gas to the furnace, 50 year old, house wiring, and recently cut down two 180 ft, pine tree lightning rods in the front yard. Bob Wilson
Who came up with this idea, and what were they on when the thought it Depending on the chemistry, LFP, LTO, Sodium Ion, don't catch fire, so there no fire to put out. NMC and any lithium cell with cobalt in it, makes it's own oxygen when it reaches thermal runaway, so you can't smother it or cool it. Cover it with a fire proof blanket and let it burn itself out ..... Here is a video to prove what I'm saying Hyundai Kona EV fire - long version T1 Terry
People that are frustrated that we can't buy Chinese EVS ought to consider something very important. Quality control. Even China's flagship, the BYD. Think the USA fires from ev's are an issue? You ain't seen nothing. It makes sense. Think how tight-lipped China media was about responsibility for the covid virus. Would it be any less - if quality control were an issue as they flood the market with millions of Chinese ev's? China keeps a tight rain on what people can say when it comes to complaining. The Human Rights Implications of China’s Social Credit System | OHRH .
