This has been the real reason for fire in electric vehicles
Why are electric vehicles catching fire?
Dehradun, pkgnews24.com In the recent past, several incidents of fires in electric vehicles (EVs), especially electric two-wheelers, in various parts of the country have left consumers and stakeholders worried. In the latest incident that took place in Telangana on the night of Tuesday, April 19, a person lost his life when the detachable battery of an electric scooter kept for charging exploded in the house. So far three Pure EVs, one Ola, two Okinawa and 20 Jitendra EV scooters have caught fire. So what is the reason for such incidents?
Are high summer temperatures to blame
While it’s easy to attribute EV fires to rising temperatures, experts suggest changes in how lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are packaged and designed. EVs are powered by Li-ion batteries, which are generally considered to be lightweight and efficient. However, they also pose a fire hazard. “Common misconceptions like Indian summer and poor thermal management that cause fires are not true. According to EV tech startup Exponent Energy, most of the fires you’ve been seeing lately are the result of thermal runaway. Exponent Energy said Li-ion cells need to reach a few hundred degrees before a thermal runaway event can occur.
“Most modern batteries shut down automatically around 45-55°C. And even if these thermal-based safety precautions are taken, you will not see a thermal runaway (fire) because the battery cannot heat itself to a few hundred degrees Celsius under normal operation,” the blog said. he said. “99% of battery fires are caused by uncontrolled current due to short circuits. This is the only scenario in which the cells become hotter than 100°C,” added a blog post by the company.
The reason for causing short circuits is also attributed to poor cell quality, poor battery design and poor battery management system, where the cells are not managed properly with the right software intelligence. Ather Energy founder Tarun Mehta told The Indian Express that manufacturers are not giving enough time to design products, and the testing standards set by government bodies may be insufficient to accurately test all real-life situations.
How you can reduce the risk of EV fire
Avoid charging the EV battery immediately after the EV is running, as the Li-ion cells in the battery tend to overheat for some time. Let the battery cool down and then put it on charge.
Use only the specified battery and charging cable that is designed for the vehicle. Using cheap local batteries can result in damage to the electric vehicle.
If it is a detachable battery, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or hot vehicles and keep it in areas with adequate ventilation. Be sure to purchase replacement batteries and chargers that match and come with the original manufacturer or authorized seller.
Periodically inspect your battery for damage prior to use and in case of any malfunction, stop using it and report it to the manufacturer. If the battery is excessively hot or shows any damage, avoid using it.
government steps
With the increasing incidents of fire in electric two-wheelers, the government has swung into action. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that companies found guilty of negligence will be fined and ordered to recall all defective vehicles after receiving the report of an expert panel set up to probe the matter.
In a series of tweets, Gadkari said that several accidents involving electric two-wheelers have been reported in the last two months, and the government will soon issue quality-focused guidelines for electric vehicles.
The government last month ordered a probe after an e-scooter launched by ride-hailing operator Ola’s electric mobility arm caught fire in Pune.
According to the road transport ministry, the Center for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) has been asked to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident and suggest remedial measures. The ministry had also asked the CFEES to share the findings along with their suggestions on measures to prevent such incidents.
Government think tank NITI Aayog on Thursday drafted a battery swapping policy for electric vehicles and suggested a rigorous testing protocol for swappable batteries along with incentives.
The commission, in its draft policy, further said that state capitals, union territory headquarters and cities with a population of more than 5 lakh would be covered under the second phase, considering the importance of two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments in the growing cities. Looking for a level playing field in the business model of selling electric vehicles with fixed or swappable batteries.
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