Our tests during w/b 24 Feb 25 really got me thinking. Re electric vehicles, there is still the feeling that there is no difference in terms of risk between EVs and ICEVs. With respect to Heat Release Rate (HRR), I accept that this is valid – 80% of the HRR is from the huge amount of plastic in EVs and ICEVs and 20% comes from the fuel or battery. But the flames from an EV may be, at least for a time, focussed on the adjacemt vehicle or wall. However, to my knowledge, ICEVs do not present confined or unconfined vapour cloud explosion hazards. And now we have an added dimension (relevant to lithium-ion batteries in general and not specifically EVs) – the fact that people subjected to the inhalation of the gases and fumes from escooter and ebike fires are not responding well or at all to normal methods of treatment.
We had not seen the brown oil previously that we observed in our tests last week, likely due to the fact that the test rig caused it to condense out of the vapour cloud. Thus it could be inhaled in the event of an LiB failing. Only about half of the cells had failed (Wojciech?) – but still produced a large quantity of the liquid. I am determined to investigate this further.
Don’t get me wrong I am not demonising lithium-ion batteries – I believe they are brilliant devices that are essential in many areas, not least renewable energy. I have just bought a (mild) hybrid EV which I am very happy with. But we should not ignore inconvenient facts.