6 ms·

i'm still scared of lithium battery house fires

r00fus 3y ago
Then get a vehicle with LFP batteries. Those ones aren't nearly as combustible as the NMC batteries (though the capacity is a bit lower for the same volume). The base-model Telsa model3 comes with them, IIRC.
milsorgen 3y ago
I'm pretty paranoid about battery fires. I store all my 18650s in vented metal ammo boxes, generally don't leave devices charging while I'm out of the house, etc, but I would hope (and I assume) something as large as a car battery would have a large safety margin built in.
- giardini 3y ago
  I had a nightmare where all the lithium batteries in the USA were intentionally booby-trapped in their manufactury so that a preset radio signal would cause them to burst into flames! Something to do with China vs USA conflict over Taiwan. So I had to run around taking out all the batteries. I think that's paranoid!8-)
  - schmookeeg 3y ago
    me too. :)
rbliss 3y ago
The spat of news stories about electric car fires tends to be news sensationalism rather than the reality of residential fires. By far, residential fires are started by cooking, home heating, malfunctioning electric wiring or lighting. Stuff you’ve already been living with for a long time! Best thing to do is make sure your smoke alarms are working, regularly tested, and have an evacuation plan, practiced with your family. See: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-Posts/2020/12/17/Most-home-fires-result-from-five-general-causes https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-medi...
- giardini 3y ago
  Problem with EV car fires is putting them out! Once auto and home insurance companies figure out the risks involved, they'll raise auto and home insurance prices accordingly. We'll see: - EV fire in a condo - destroys entire condo building. Requires 4 hours of fire department coverage. - ICE fire in a condo - partially burns a single unit. Put out in 20 minutes by fire department.
  - timbit42 3y ago
    "destroys entire condo building". Doubt.

Then get a vehicle with LFP batteries. Those ones aren't nearly as combustible as the NMC batteries (though the capacity is a bit lower for the same volume). The base-model Telsa model3 comes with them, IIRC.

milsorgen 3y ago

I'm pretty paranoid about battery fires. I store all my 18650s in vented metal ammo boxes, generally don't leave devices charging while I'm out of the house, etc, but I would hope (and I assume) something as large as a car battery would have a large safety margin built in.

giardini 3y ago
I had a nightmare where all the lithium batteries in the USA were intentionally booby-trapped in their manufactury so that a preset radio signal would cause them to burst into flames! Something to do with China vs USA conflict over Taiwan. So I had to run around taking out all the batteries. I think that's paranoid!8-)
- schmookeeg 3y ago
  me too. :)

rbliss 3y ago

The spat of news stories about electric car fires tends to be news sensationalism rather than the reality of residential fires. By far, residential fires are started by cooking, home heating, malfunctioning electric wiring or lighting. Stuff you’ve already been living with for a long time! Best thing to do is make sure your smoke alarms are working, regularly tested, and have an evacuation plan, practiced with your family. See: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-Posts/2020/12/17/Most-home-fires-result-from-five-general-causes https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-medi...

giardini 3y ago
Problem with EV car fires is putting them out! Once auto and home insurance companies figure out the risks involved, they'll raise auto and home insurance prices accordingly. We'll see: - EV fire in a condo - destroys entire condo building. Requires 4 hours of fire department coverage. - ICE fire in a condo - partially burns a single unit. Put out in 20 minutes by fire department.
- timbit42 3y ago
  "destroys entire condo building". Doubt.