[Jason M. Hendler]

Well, the moment we've all been waiting for - an EV burns and explodes.

Link

What pisses me off, is that warning signs were there that this particular vehicle was suffering a charging problem, which means that you park it until you sort out the charging problem. Instead, they keep operating it.

Seems some other subsystem failed, but now the whole world will look at EV's as the problem.

 

[MetrologyFirst]

I didn't think Toyota would go to such lengths to discredit the Volt technology.

Seriously, at least no one was hurt. This should show people that electric vehicles aren't childs play. Why would you trust a small unknown company for your future electric car? Sounds like you could be literally playing with fire.

 

[BestTimesNow]

Here's an update

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aXZxl5AH9nqA&refer=japan

 

[Jason M. Hendler]

BestTimesNow,

Thanks for the update. It leaves me with a few comments / questions:

1) Hybrids Plus designed, assembled and installed these battery packs for the Prius using A123 power tool batteries, not the batteries A123 is developing for the Volt. These batteries were procured by Hybrids Plus from a retailer of A123 power tool batteries, and not from A123 themselves, so Hybrids Plus is not directly affiliated with A123. The Hymotion battery pack uses the same batteries intended for the Volt, which are supplied directly from A123, and their battery packs have been crash / safety tested.

2) A123 claims that the power tool batteries are not the same as the vehicle batteries, so what are the differences? Is the fact that they are different supposed to make GM more or less comfortable, as it is the power tool batteries which have been mass produced?

3) Can I infer from this article that Hybrids Plus did not crash / safety test these battery pack designs? If not, how are they allowed to perform this conversion?

4) I am certain that A123 was pulled into the matter, which is appropriate. Should they really clear their own name before a full report on the incident is released? They should definitely reassure GM, but they could / should refrain from any public comment until the independent investigators publish their report.

 

[swoosh]

Well Gas cars have never caught fire or exploded

Fords would just light up sitting in a drive way

 

[JoeReal]

In our local news some years ago, we've had several Saturns did "spontaneous" combustion also. And there was massive recall to fix the wiring problem which was the culprit.

 

[Jason M. Hendler]

It's always an electrical problem...

 

[zzyzzx]

Article really doesn't give enough details.

 

[kubel]

I'll bet it was a wiring problem (which isn't totally unheard of in cars). My gas-powered Ford Focus had two electric fire-related recalls. One from defective battery cables, and another from a defective wiper switch.