Well they do not, they only have 20lb or smaller extinguishers, of several types.aside from several thousands gallons tank and a pump they hook up to a hydrant, they may as well have a D class extinguisher, but it wont do anything to a tesla battery, especially since it burns inside a metal box, with practically no way to get the solution inside the box. Pretty much the only team that can deal with such fire is airport fire dept, with their foam trucks. but no city FD has those. I'm a building engineer, our fire safety director is a former FDNY, and he drives a tesla, we had this conversation with him.
The "oxygen suite" is not really a suite, it is a SCBA, a tank with compressed air, and a mask. lasts about 30 min fully charged. i have one at home, keep it just in case, hope i never have to use it. the suite is made to protect from heat, and flames, not toxic gases
Today the dangers that come from the ground are only appreciated in military vehicles. In the good old days one could buy an oil pan guard, after some effort. Today they are in NL only available from custom shops who specialize in rally and off-road cars. One might say that the roads have become much cleaner and safer, but people and cars are less prepared for what happens if something does go wrong.
I know Tesla is constantly focussing on efficacy and efficiency, to save weight and cost. The new “battery holder” is going to be part of the body shell on the underside of the vehicle. Thus making it even more vulnerable to debris on the road. That’s not a good strategy to handle things like these, if you (would) ask me.
This was a problem the city was facing. The city didn’t know much about Lithium fires at that time. Until a vaper cause a fire that took to long to extinguish with just water. The city then realize they have to do research on Lithium fire. Especially when building are on top of each other.
I live in a small city. By building as much houses as they, can equal to more property tax. Today, due to codes. The houses has to built further apart from each other. By some people standard, It’s not far apart from each other.
Years ago, The city’s fire chief that lives near me saw me outside and talked about these tanks, since he heard me talking about the tanks. It’s truck mounted but can be portable. When not in use it become a seat. There’s some short coming, Small length hose is the main. They also have the portable one for in house fire. It was new back then. I don’t know if they still in use today. I think someone mentioned, It’s cheaper with the portable tanks, than to refill the mounted tank.
I know about the suit you’re mentioning. It been awhile since I talk to my friend brother in law. I think he mentioned he uses a hazmat one piece suit over his fire fighter suit. I forgot, It been years since I spoke to him.
My thought exactly. A full-bottom skid plate would be helpful. But, Tesla thinks, how many of our cars will run over something that can puncture a cell? It would cut into the profit margin, too. So they don’t bother.
I wouldn’t mind a Mr. Fusion powering my SUV. Anybody remember “Back to the Future”? :sunglasses:
Especially if you’re in a turn, and the front tire shoot the ball hitch right at the floor board. If it’s a Tesla, the ball hitch will be in the back seat.
What about a proper fire suppression system built into these EV’s battery enclosures. Some racecars, I’ve seen it mostly in 200mph or higher dragsters, have had them for years. Yes it is used to put out a high octane or even nitro methane powered vehicles but, if the technology exist to put a highly advanced EV on the road then why can’t they make it safe from the fire even starting to begin with? Or at least the care be smart enough to sense when a fire has started and be able to put it out before millions of dollars worth of fire fighting equipment is called to the scene to put out a fire that they really can’t put out.
Damn things are too expensive as it is. Why not at least make them safe.
Technology to to a point where we got power steering, for easier and safer driving. We got anti lock brakes, for safer and quicker stopping. We got air bags that can inflate in fractions of a second to save our lives. Even the rubber tire has come such a long way in the last 60 years, keeping us safer on the road. Why in the hell are we risking our lives sitting on top of a battery with no way to stop it when it decides to go into runaway mode?
It’s not cost effective. The fire suppression system has to be expected. Expiration date on chemical.
There was an article I was reading about installing fire suppression system in EVs. The cons out way the pros. Times are different now. You never know.
I think adding something that will contain the fire and chemicals fumes in an accident is a better option. Especially if the driver is unconscious.
there is a big difference between storing fuel and storing energy, fuel needs outside oxygen to burn, and heat, remove any of those and fire goes out. with energy is not so simple, it does not need any of that, battery fire is a lot closer to gunpowder burning, than to a fuel.
One area of concern is EVs that have been flooded by salt water. According to the NHTSA, residual salt within the battery or battery components can form conductive “bridges” that can lead to short circuit and self-heating of the battery, resulting in fires.Oct 20, 2022
