7 ms·

Can a firefighter explain to me how this crash would have been different if it had happened in a Maserati? Because otherwise there is no story here, except that

Can a firefighter explain to me how this crash would have been different if it had happened in a Maserati? Because otherwise there is no story here, except that weird, horrible accidents now happen with electric cars, too.

brentm 10y ago
It's a local news story posted to HN at this point. Local news always covers these type of events, especially with theatrics like a fireball caught on video. It doesn't seem like something that would become national news based on that report.
dwighttk 10y ago
wouldn't have to put out fires fueled (apparently) by magnesium
- johnward 10y ago
  They put out gasoline and diesel fires. Is it because they are not yet prepared to deal with battery fires? I feel like all vehicle fuels are volatile in an accident, including batteries.
manganese 10y ago
Magnesium. But, yes, operator error, unless auto-pilot is found to be involved.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Isn't auto pilot speed limited? It from the witness reports and the wreck it looks like they were traveling at considerably higher speeds than the limit.
JoeAltmaier 10y ago
Isn't it because LiOn batteries have their oxidizer in them? So its like jet fuel or something - fuel and liquid oxygen mixed can't be 'put out'. Neither can battery fires. They have to burn to exhaustion.
- Retric 10y ago
  You can just use water to extinguish LiOn fires. http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_w... "Lithium-ion batteries contain little lithium metal and in case of a fire they can be dowsed with water. Only lithium-metal batteries require a Class D fire extinguisher."
  - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
    Firefighters say in no uncertain terms that water should never be used. Also this site claims only foam extinguishers should be used: http://venturaaerospace.com/news/suppressing-lithium-ion-battery-fires/ http://venturaaerospace.com/news/suppressing-lithium-ion-bat...
    - bmh_ca 10y ago
      From Tessla's first-responder guide: > If the high voltage battery catches fire, is exposed to high heat, or is bent, twisted, cracked, or breached in any way, use large amounts of water to cool the battery. DO NOT extinguish with a small amount of water. Always establish or request an additional water supply.
      - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
        'large amounts' is probably an effort to cool the rest of the pack and prevent the fire spreading. Not a way to actually put out the cells already on fire?
        Retric 10y ago
        Remove enough heat and fires stop. The geometry of battery packs may make this difficult, but at a minimum it can prevent secondary fires. PS: However, simply letting a wretched car burn is generally safe and the car is already totaled so there is little reason to mess with it.
    - 10y ago

brentm 10y ago

It's a local news story posted to HN at this point. Local news always covers these type of events, especially with theatrics like a fireball caught on video. It doesn't seem like something that would become national news based on that report.

dwighttk 10y ago

wouldn't have to put out fires fueled (apparently) by magnesium

johnward 10y ago
They put out gasoline and diesel fires. Is it because they are not yet prepared to deal with battery fires? I feel like all vehicle fuels are volatile in an accident, including batteries.

manganese 10y ago

Magnesium. But, yes, operator error, unless auto-pilot is found to be involved.

dogma1138 10y ago
Isn't auto pilot speed limited? It from the witness reports and the wreck it looks like they were traveling at considerably higher speeds than the limit.

JoeAltmaier 10y ago

Isn't it because LiOn batteries have their oxidizer in them? So its like jet fuel or something - fuel and liquid oxygen mixed can't be 'put out'. Neither can battery fires. They have to burn to exhaustion.

Retric 10y ago
You can just use water to extinguish LiOn fires. http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_w... "Lithium-ion batteries contain little lithium metal and in case of a fire they can be dowsed with water. Only lithium-metal batteries require a Class D fire extinguisher."
- JoeAltmaier 10y ago
  Firefighters say in no uncertain terms that water should never be used. Also this site claims only foam extinguishers should be used: http://venturaaerospace.com/news/suppressing-lithium-ion-battery-fires/ http://venturaaerospace.com/news/suppressing-lithium-ion-bat...
  - bmh_ca 10y ago
    From Tessla's first-responder guide: > If the high voltage battery catches fire, is exposed to high heat, or is bent, twisted, cracked, or breached in any way, use large amounts of water to cool the battery. DO NOT extinguish with a small amount of water. Always establish or request an additional water supply.
    - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
      'large amounts' is probably an effort to cool the rest of the pack and prevent the fire spreading. Not a way to actually put out the cells already on fire?
      - Retric 10y ago
        Remove enough heat and fires stop. The geometry of battery packs may make this difficult, but at a minimum it can prevent secondary fires. PS: However, simply letting a wretched car burn is generally safe and the car is already totaled so there is little reason to mess with it.
  - 10y ago