Despite the more or less true positive aspects of the next generation of electric cars, there remains a shadow on their reputation that cannot be removed. The Prague case demonstrates this in its entirety.
The boom registered in recent years by electric cars as a new type of zero-emission vehicle is indisputable. These cars had the opportunity to show us what they are like undeniable advantages, such as less burden on the planet, low operating costs, or silent driving, but also its negative aspects, which are above all the ecologically demanding production, the high purchase price and, as we learned from the example of the underground garage in Holešovice, the risk of fire.
Unit intervention in Belehradská street due to a single car
“The units of the central stations, Holešovice, Skhanica, Krčská and Chodová intervened on Bělehradská Street in Prague 2 on the fire of an electric car in the first underground floor of the garage of the administration building. The fire broke out before midnight on Thursday 4 May 2023″, reads the fire and rescue service report. We attach the entire recording of the intervention in an original and authentic video shot by one of the firefighters involved:
“Firefighters intervened with breathing techniques and used several water jets, including a COBRA device, to pierce the battery casing to cool it. Firefighters using hydraulic expanders raised the vehicle to better access the battery in the floor. Prague fire brigade chemists they measured the concentrations of pollutants leaking from the garage into the air. For this reason, a part of Bělehradská Street was closed by the police of the Czech Republic. The chemists also collected samples of fire water for further investigation,” the report continues.
The self-ignition of electric cars is the nightmare of all transporters
This event, although more than six months old, shows us one of the problems of electric cars, namely the risk of spontaneous combustion. At the same time, another event, of a significantly larger scale, occurred just a few months ago. whose shots have literally gone around the world: the self-ignition of electric cars on an ocean-going ship full of cars, which ended up burning almost entirely, becoming an ecological reminder of how far electric car shipping can go and how it can end. After all, the same thing still applies, no matter how much EV owners don’t like to hear it:
Electric cars don’t burn out more often than internal combustion engine vehicles, certainly not. But once they start burning, it is very difficult to put them out. In this context, I dare to predict it in the future this factor will be at least as important as charging time or the range of the entire electric car. And if the new generation of batteries, announced in months rather than years, is significantly less flammable, it will be just another stone to add to the positive characteristics of electric cars.
The causes of ignition are generally known, the defense is complex
The most common causes of ignition of electric cars:
- Battery damage:
- Electric cars are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which contain a lot of energy potential. If physical damage occurs to the battery, such as cell failure, rupture, overheating, or short circuit, energy can be released and cause a fire.
- Insufficient cooling
- Electric car batteries require adequate cooling to maintain an optimal temperature. If the battery is not cooled adequately, overheating and potential fire may occur.
- Fire caused by external factors
- Electric cars, like other vehicles, are subject to fires caused by accidents or external influences, for example fires caused by accidents, electrical faults or even bad weather. It’s important to note that while electric vehicle fires are relatively rare, both manufacturers and regulators are taking precautions and implementing safety protocols to minimize the risks associated with fires.
iPhoto Source: HZS Prague
In conclusion, we can only hope to see as few similar videos of the HZS intervention on electric cars as possible. What is your opinion on current technology? Would you buy a car that has something so highly flammable in its guts, like a lithium ion battery? Please let us know in the discussion below the article, thanks!
2024-01-06 04:46:54
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