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Electric vehicles can generate temperatures of nearly 4,900 degrees when they burn[1], that's what's different. [1]: https://www.kttc.com/2022/09/01/iowa-firef

Electric vehicles can generate temperatures of nearly 4,900 degrees when they burn[1], that's what's different. [1]: https://www.kttc.com/2022/09/01/iowa-firefighters-express-concern-over-electric-vehicle-fire-risks/ https://www.kttc.com/2022/09/01/iowa-firefighters-express-co...

synergyS 4y ago
In the end they say ICE cars catch fire more than EVs. In my European country older diesel cars catch fires and burn quite regularly unfortunately.
- adamors 4y ago
  EV fires are a PITA to put out, this one needed thousands of gallons of water. You can't smother a lithium battery fire with anything, it will continue to burn even underwater. Your only option is to cool the battery to a point where its below the point of combustion. And that takes considerable time and a lot of water. This is also happening to relatively new cars not some 30 year old piece of junk.
  - sebazzz 4y ago
    Isn't water the wrong solution then? In the fire triangle of fuel-temperature-oxidizer, you can also take away the oxidizer using foam, can't you?
    - Turing_Machine 4y ago
      Yes. Water is also a very poor choice for gasoline fires. At least the battery will mostly stay in one place, rather than floating off on the surface of the water, possibly setting things on fire at a considerable distance from the original source.
Turing_Machine 4y ago
I'm not seeing a source for that figure, or even whether it's F or C. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA238154.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA238154.pdf (pdf link) says that lithium burning in air reaches a maximum temperature of about 1,000 C (about 1,800 F). https://www.thoughtco.com/flame-temperatures-table-607307 https://www.thoughtco.com/flame-temperatures-table-607307 says that various hydrocarbons (butane, candles, ethane, methane) produce pretty much the same temperature range when burned in air.

synergyS 4y ago

In the end they say ICE cars catch fire more than EVs. In my European country older diesel cars catch fires and burn quite regularly unfortunately.

adamors 4y ago
EV fires are a PITA to put out, this one needed thousands of gallons of water. You can't smother a lithium battery fire with anything, it will continue to burn even underwater. Your only option is to cool the battery to a point where its below the point of combustion. And that takes considerable time and a lot of water. This is also happening to relatively new cars not some 30 year old piece of junk.
- sebazzz 4y ago
  Isn't water the wrong solution then? In the fire triangle of fuel-temperature-oxidizer, you can also take away the oxidizer using foam, can't you?
  - Turing_Machine 4y ago
    Yes. Water is also a very poor choice for gasoline fires. At least the battery will mostly stay in one place, rather than floating off on the surface of the water, possibly setting things on fire at a considerable distance from the original source.

Turing_Machine 4y ago

I'm not seeing a source for that figure, or even whether it's F or C. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA238154.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA238154.pdf (pdf link) says that lithium burning in air reaches a maximum temperature of about 1,000 C (about 1,800 F). https://www.thoughtco.com/flame-temperatures-table-607307 https://www.thoughtco.com/flame-temperatures-table-607307 says that various hydrocarbons (butane, candles, ethane, methane) produce pretty much the same temperature range when burned in air.