Oh, this is not pretty.
This short video shows smoke emanating from three tightly packed Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickups in February in a holding lot owned by Ford Motor in Dearborn, Michigan. CNBC obtained the previously unreleased footage from the Dearborn Police Department in Michigan through the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
It shows the fire that destroyed multiple vehicles and prompted an urgent recall of 18 trucks that had already been manufactured with what Ford described as a defect in the battery. Ford temporarily stopped production of the Lightning, but later resumed.
Although the duration of the fire is unclear, timestamps on CNBC’s footage indicate that it may have lasted between 3:36 p.m. and 4:22 p.m. Experts say electric vehicle fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and that they often burn hotter, faster, and require more water to put out than a traditional motor vehicle fire.
Ford says the problem that caused the fire has been corrected and that it knows of no accidents or injuries caused by the defect.
##RVT1101b
I just wonder how long did Ford or the plant where the battery is made knew of the defect. And what exactly was the defect? This should be disclosed to the public, huge safety consideration for those who decide to buy into the “electric” everything agenda!!!
Probably Chinese technology, cut a corner here, cut a corner there until it’s cheap enough to satisfy the American manufacturers specs.
The Chinese are working at a battery plant in Georgia?
BYD already exporting EV buses outside China
Coming to you. Vehicles powered by unstable technology.
Yeah, who ever saw a gas powered vehicle on fire?
That’s an interesting question. What percentage of auto fires are ICE autos versus EVs. 95% – 5% respectively would make it about even. If 10% are EVs, then it would be twice as likely to have a fire in an EV or, 50% less likely to have a fire in traditional automobile versus an EV.
Also, the cause of the fire would be interesting given that EV drivers are typically non-smoking vegans but on the other hand, could be vaping weed oil with more regularity creating yet another fire hazard. More questions than answers.
Well, I’d agree you have more questions than answers. And interesting assumptions on EV drivers. I must be an exception to your stereotype. But to answer your question on percentages of fires, here’s a very recent fact: Overall, EVs are about 0.3 percent likely to ignite, versus a 1.05 percent likelihood for gas cars, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the National Transportation Safety Board compiled by Auto Insurance EZ last year.Feb 2, 2023
We bought a Nissan Leaf about 2.5 years ago and use it for the majority of our driving trips, with our truck used primarily for pulling our TT and a few hauling jobs. During this time it’s been trouble free, with the only maintenance expense being two tire rotations. Our cost to charge it works out to $.03/mile.
Thanks Warren. It was a serious question that deserved an answer, for which I have it now. Sincere thanks. A lot is made about the fire hazard of Lithium batteries. (Also used in vapes, i’m told). FAA bans them on flights.
You may in fact be the exception. I expect more granola in the trunk on grocery day than T-Bones is typical in an EV but that stereotype may be way off base too. Cheers. 👍
“ I expect more granola in the trunk on grocery day than T-Bones is typical in an EV” That Quote IS Gold, Cancelproof!!!! LOL🤣
Warren, I did a little follow up research on those numbers and the best I can tell, these are numbers based on vehicle collisions leading to fires. It appears that the data for ICE vehicles includes 20, 30, 40 year old vehicles that may have leaky fuel lines and bad maintenance. I think a study needs to be done in the last 5 model years of electric versus the last 5 model years of gasoline vehicles, and based on spontaneous combustion events versus post collison fires where external damage to fuel lines can occur. Basically, the number of car fires when parked in a driveway after the ignition is off for both types of vehicles. ✌️
Park your car and walk away…. does it catch fire. 5 years old or newer because comparing a 1972 Pinto in a collision to a 2022 Tesla, may not be an accurate guide.
And people are fearful of giving Hydrogen a chance?
Electric EV’s! A figment of the present admins imagination! Flame suit on!
The same people whining about electric vehicles are the same ones who whine while pumping gasoline into their vehicles. You want to remain beholden to OPEC, Saudi Arabia and greedy oil speculators, then by all means, don’t go electric. I’ll be laughing at you as you clutch your pearls with every daily gasoline price jump as I drive by. (…and don’t be stupid, oil costs aren’t set by the administration.)
We only became beholding to Opec after 2020. Remember what happened then? Prior to that we were energy independant.
Yep!
Correct !
Please prove that Tommy.
No need to prove it Tommy. We all know, it’s just that some won’t admit it. I guess when America is a net exporter of oil, versus a net importer of oil, the mathematical evidence is just not self explanatory enough for some.
It’s simple date history. Prove that it’s not. Note B N S’s and Bob P’s comments as well.
The US produced just 1% of the world’s lithium supply in 2021.
Beholden to one country or another.
The US does have substantial lithium to mine, but according to Columbia University: “These side effects include: use of large quantities of water and related pollution; potential increase in carbon dioxide emissions; production of large quantities of mineral waste; increased respiratory problems; alteration of the hydrological cycle.” Jan 18, 2023
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/01/18/the-paradox-of-lithium/#:~:text=These%20side%20effects%20include%3A%20use,interests%20at%20stake%20are%20enormous.
I very seldom find myself in agreement with an article or paper from any “Clmate School”. However, the article you linked in your post was excellent. It is accurate in it’s depiction of planetary destruction in the mining of Lithium and moreover of how destroying the planet to save the planet is counterproductive. Burn down your house to handle a mouse infestation?
Thanks for the link.
Yep, burn down your house and the mice / rats just run next door. Problem not solved – just moved. We humans are really good at solving one problem by creating another. Where-in does “artificial inelegance” REALLY reside?
Lithium Ion is an ecological mess, there is no disputing that. Which is why it will just be one part of a mix of technologies that are being tested by the ‘free market’. But there is another option to Li-Ion. CNG is still in the mix, and hydrogen uses existing engine tech and we have infrastructure for refueling with it on many corners. In fact, Sodium, Zinc, Vanadium and Aluminum are generally plentiful, cost effective and easier to recycle – and those are being tested in batteries. We are at the same point in the Green Revolution as society was in the 1900’s when autos were powered by gasoline, diesel, steam, and electrics. I recommend you watch the videos I linked above, and you should watch ALL of them, because they are excellent, well researched and easy to understand.
“Stupid,” or I would say ignorance, would be thinking that governmental energy policy doesn’t impact energy prices. While energy prices are not specifically set by the US government, current policies certainly materially impact pricing.
It has also drained our emergency reserves of oil to the lowest level in decades, with no tactical or strategic plans to refill, putting the US in a dangerous energy position in case of a major disaster or political conflict.
And where do you think the electricity you use to charge your car comes from?
I hope that was a rhetorical question Charlie because you’re going to be waiting a long time if your expecting an actual answer to any question. Maybe this time will be different but I doubt it. More of a hit and run kind of guy.
Some of us are simply whining about the dead 12 year olds that mine the cobalt in the Congo for your electric car. Some of us whine about the 20 tons of carbon produced to manufacture your single electric car, before you even plug into the coal powered electrical grid. Others whine about the $7,500.00 tax payer bribe that helps elitists feel good about driving. Others worry that China controlling almost 80% of the world’s Lithium mining is bad national security policy. Some simply think it’s duplicitous to not embrace nuclear power in place of coal for auto charging. And still, Others are worried about the almost 100 dead whales off the coast of NJ and NY for the 90 story windmills. Kill the planet to save the planet seems like an odd strategy.
Yeah, we’re all just uninformed whiners.
The only reason oil prices are going up is because of our present administrations actions. We have enough oil in America for a long time. A good article to read is Dark money group pushing gas stove crackdown has significant financial stake in green energy by Thomas Catenacci”. If you want a electric vehicle than buy one. If you want a hybrid or ICE vehicle than buy one. I prefer hybrid’s.
The statement that electrical fires require more water to extinguish brings to mind the old adage that water and electricity don’t mix. Newer technology is needed for fire treatment on EVs. Some how they’re going to have a power disconnect that shuts off the batteries in case of a fire. As long as they’re connected they’re going to continue to burn.
Like, some kind of “Fuse” maybe? I think once the fire starts, there is no disconnecting the battery, only extinguishing the fire or letting it burn. We have had class 8 diesel trucks catch fire when their battery cable grounded due to abrasions. The fire department had to put out the fire before we could get close enough to work on a burned truck.
Ford’s experience in vehicle fires excels with their Pinto and other vehicles with faulty ignition switches. So much so, Ford renamed the under-hood “Firewall”, a “Bulkhead.”
A female voice said ” the smoke is clear as day”
What?
I see BLACK smoke.
Lithium is a flammable metal. More water, more fire