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> remain useful and safe enough for use. Current EV tech passes that. Does it though? I heard exploding/self-burning batteries, which were a problem with some

• api 5y ago
  Gasoline fires happen all the time. They just don't make the news because they're not new. Like EV battery fires they are statistically rare. We got pretty good at handling incredibly toxic and flammable liquid fuels on a routine basis and we can do this for high energy density batteries too.
• devonkim 5y ago
  It’s worth considering the status quo of ICE and gasoline fueled mechanical infrastructure which certainly has plenty of casualties and human health problems all throughout the lifecycle. In fact, early on I remember reading that people used to think cars should have only so much fuel in them because they are mobile bombs in people’s homes. But the dangers come from the emissions too and when gas tankers get in accidents and leak fuel into our environment. Lithium batteries in consumer electronics are not really engineered for a ton of safety but for rapid time to market which is certainly not what I’d like to see for very long. And while shipping lithium batteries a warning label needs to be attached but shipping gasoline and lighter fluid requires special permits and must be transported isolated with certain guarantees by law. In this respect our current market has deemed lithium batteries to be far safer than gasoline without much need for regulatory pressure to do so.