Featured Big EV company fire

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, Apr 15, 2026 at 12:33 AM.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    There are other flammables such as plastics that also burn.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  2. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    End of Life cars. So most likely EVs with old lithium ion batteries. They just recently switched to LFP 5 years ago but are still use Lithium Ion as well.
     
  3. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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  4. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    I had to modify my ebike to take LFP. But my escooter I couldn't.
     
  5. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    LFP is a type of lithium-ion battery. It refers only to the cathode chemistry of the lithium-ion battery, such as NMC or other chemistries. There is no other difference than other lithium-ion battery types, really. LFP is a less-flammable, cheaper cathode material, yes, but it’s also heavier per kWh and performs worse than the more expensive, more premium NMC cathode material.

    LFP-cathode lithium-ion batteries could be safer than NMC-cathode lithium-ion batteries, yes, but they are still awfully dangerous:

    https://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7BB0A3DD95-0000-CD5E-934A-5151244BC6E0%7D&DocTitle=LFP%20Batteries%20Are%20Dangerous%202-24-25
     
    #5 Gokhan, Apr 15, 2026 at 2:35 AM
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2026 at 2:47 AM
  6. PriusV17

    PriusV17 Active Member

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    We had one case of a Prius driver report their LFP traction pack caught on fire. But after closer look, it just off gassed a lot and a lot of heat. But not even the foam padding caught on fire. And that is reassuring that your whole car won't burn down. He replaced the pack back and kept on driving.

    This guy also states thermal run-away happens but not out of control fire.



    I'm definitely leaning toward Sodium Ion batteries, but their availability is very low and only starting to enter the market. I think that is why Jack switched to Sodium Ion packs for NexPower. The risk of fire drops even more.
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    and while you're talking them down all you want, you might add that LFP is much more resilient to being charged up to 100% without losing CAPACITY - or having to use a massive upper buffer