Lithium-ion battery fires can ignite with alarming intensity, striking fear into those around them. I’ve put out my share of blazing iPhones with burst lithium-ion batteries. In your pocket right now, there might be a small, powerful version of the very same lithium-ion batteries that power your smartphone. The electric vehicle’s batteries store an enormous amount of energy, so much in fact that it has become a significant concern for firefighters, who struggle to put out the intense fires caused when an EV battery pack is damaged and catches fire following a high-speed crash on the highway.
As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to surge? Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is probing an incident where a vehicle caught fire following a collision with a tree. The lithium-ion battery caught fire and continued to burn for approximately four hours.
Is it really necessary to worry about the future of your personal electric vehicle? Probably not. Compared to traditional vehicles, it’s more logical to worry about gasoline-powered cars catching fire than electric ones, given that EVs have significantly fewer and less hazardous components.
According to Matthew McDowell, co-director of …, the incidence of fires caused by battery manufacturing defects is remarkably rare.
“In electric vehicles, advanced battery management systems play a crucial role, particularly because they incorporate sophisticated battery monitoring capabilities.”
Electric vehicle fires typically arise from a combination of factors: high-voltage battery malfunctions, physical damage to the battery or surrounding components, and environmental conditions that exacerbate ignition.
During a catastrophic crash that compromises the integrity of an electric vehicle’s battery, the risk of thermal runaway may initiate, characterized by uncontrolled heat buildup and potentially disastrous consequences. Energy storage in EV batteries is anything but a single, static entity. Considered collectively, these batteries can be viewed as a cluster of numerous smaller units, known as cells, stacked closely together. When thermal runaway occurs, a chemical reaction within a single cell ignites, rapidly propagating heat to adjacent cells until the entire EV battery is compromised.
As Greg Much Less, director of a prominent organization, clarifies, EV battery fires can be categorized into two primary types: accidents, which are rare incidents triggered by external factors, and manufacturing defects, which result from faulty production processes or materials. He defines accidents broadly, encompassing everything from a minor collision that damages the battery to a catastrophic charging malfunction. As he spoke, he removed the papers from the desk, his hands moving with a deliberate slowness that seemed to emphasize the simplicity of the action. Because of this, people often assume that whenever someone is involved in a car crash, regardless of the vehicle type, there’s always a risk of fire.
While all electric vehicle (EV) battery fires pose significant challenges in extinguishing them, those sparked by manufacturing defects are likely more concerning for consumers due to the perceived unpredictability. When battery faults emerge, seemingly at random, how can such anomalies in EV battery production spark unpredictable blazes that threaten the very essence of fire safety?
The efficacy of battery performance hinges critically on its design and engineering principles. According to Less, “Improper engineering has led to a premature triggering of the cell, causing it to generate heat.” “Warm temperatures cause the liquid electrolyte to vaporize, resulting in a buildup of gasoline within the cell.” As temperatures reach a critical threshold, the defective battery cells ignite, causing a sudden and catastrophic explosion that rapidly spreads to adjacent cells. It is likely that such failures contributed to the highly publicized incident, where more than 100 vehicles were damaged in a parking lot.
When an electrical vehicle catches fire, prompt action is crucial for ensuring occupant safety and minimizing damage. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
If you notice smoke or flames emanating from the car, follow these procedures:
In the event of an electric vehicle (EV) catching fire while in operation, promptly identify a safe location to pull over and remove the vehicle from the primary traffic path. Immediately kill the engine and ensure all occupants exit the vehicle promptly. Don’t let minor distractions hinder your progress; swiftly exit and move forward without hesitation. Remain at least 100 feet away from the engulfed vehicle and swiftly dial 911 to summon the fire department’s professional services, requesting assistance with the automotive blaze.
Don’t attempt to extinguish the fire on your own either. In the event of a chemical fire in a fireplace, simply having two buckets of water may not be sufficient to fully extinguish the flames. EV battery fires can spread rapidly and require significantly more time for emergency responders to put out than those caused by a traditional gas-powered vehicle’s fireplace, potentially posing a greater risk to nearby people and property. Typically, firefighters would resolve to let the battery simply drain, rather than dousing it with water.
As a catastrophic event unfolds, any EV battery fire typically subsides once the initial blaze has extinguished itself. Will the battery potentially ignite and flare up days after initial use? “Firefighters and secondary responders, akin to car restoration or tow companies, must also consider the risk of stranded energy that may remain in undamaged battery components,” notes Thomas Barth, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator and biomechanics engineer, in an email statement. “This power source poses a risk of electrical shock and may even cause the engine to re-ignite.”
While it may seem enticing to rummage through the vehicle’s interior when the flame momentarily flickers or dies, refrain from giving in to this impulse. Await clearance from the native firefighting team before assessing the situation’s overall status. Staying at a safe distance from any nearby vehicles can significantly minimize your exposure to hazardous pollutants released by a battery fire.
To mitigate risks associated with electric vehicle (EV) battery fires, manufacturers are exploring innovative materials and designs that enhance safety without compromising performance. Some potential advancements include:
With swift recalls and swaps of potentially faulty lithium-ion batteries, experts express optimism regarding the potential of solid-state batteries to significantly enhance EV reliability. According to McDowell, these batteries may potentially exhibit superior thermal stability compared to lithium-ion batteries. As temperatures rise, the system can maintain stability with ease. A crucial benefit of solid-state batteries lies in their lack of liquid electrolytes, eliminating the most volatile component in traditional battery designs.
While solid-state batteries have already found applications in smaller electronics, their large-scale production remains a significant challenge for electric vehicle manufacturers striving to overcome it?
