Fatal prototype hybrid car explosion claims researcher’s life and leaves another severely injured with third-degree burns

Combination of gas and electric systems makes hybrids more likely to cause fires

Hybrid electric vehicles have been under scrutiny due to safety concerns in the past. This risk has been demonstrated in previous incidents involving electric and hybrid vehicles, including some Tesla models.

As of November 2022, there have been reports of 44 deaths related to Tesla car fires. The proximity of the gasoline engine to the electric battery system is believed to contribute to the higher likelihood of explosions and fires in hybrid vehicles. (Related: Self-driving cars could easily turn into self-crashing cars that deliberately target and kill humans, expert warns.)

The presence of a gasoline engine in combination with a high-powered electric system and a battery is believed to be the primary cause of fire in hybrid vehicles, as the heat generated under the hood in hybrids poses a greater risk.

One such incident involved a Quebec family whose Jeep Wrangler 4xe hybrid caught fire shortly after crossing the Georges-Washington Bridge in New York during the Easter holiday. This marked the first reported case of a fire involving a hybrid Jeep vehicle.

Firefighters who have dealt with electric and hybrid vehicle fires highlight the intensity of these blazes. Most electrified vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which are notoriously difficult to extinguish.

The chemistry employed in these batteries can lead to thermal runaway, wherein a damaged battery becomes hot enough to self-ignite. Such fires often generate temperatures high enough to melt the asphalt beneath the vehicle and even shatter nearby building windows.

Controlling these fires presents another obstacle, as firefighters often need to deploy two or three tanker trucks to cool down the battery. Compounding the issue, lithium batteries tend to reignite on their own several hours after the initial fire appears to have been put out.

Learn more about high-tech vehicles like hybrid cars at RoboCars.news.

Watch this video of electric cars transported on an open deck that suddenly burst into flames as saltwater exposure shorts their batteries.

Fatal prototype hybrid car explosion claims researcher’s life and leaves another severely injured with third-degree burns

Combination of gas and electric systems makes hybrids more likely to cause fires

More related stories:

RECENT ARTICLES

Walgreens to close 150 stores by summer 2024 due to declining demand for COVID-19 products

Fatal prototype hybrid car explosion claims researcher’s life and leaves another severely injured with third-degree burns

Car companies are expanding into the lithium mining business to secure their supplies for EV manufacturing

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles produce five times more greenhouse gases than claimed by manufacturers

Study finds electric vehicles are heavier and cause more damage to roads than gas and diesel cars