Ballistic battery time again. Insurers and fire fighters must be nervous as mass battery-powered travel is supposed to be the future in many countries.
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There have been near daily reports of electric scooters catching fire across India amid record-breaking temperatures, says The Telegraph.
At least four Indians have died since March after their electric scooters caught fire, with record-breaking temperatures caused by climate change now feared to be behind the deadly blazes.
A father and daughter died in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in March, while two men died in two separate incidents in April in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
In each of the three incidents it was reported that the scooters’ cell batteries had set alight while the vehicles were charging at the victims’ homes.
There have also been near daily reports of electric scooters catching fire while being used on India’s roads over the last two months.
Footage shared widely on social media showed an electric scooter bursting into flames in the city of Pune in late March, shortly after the rider had parked the vehicle.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
Faulty Battery Cells, Modules Likely Caused E-scooter Fire in India, Initial Probe Finds
11 HOURS AGO
In March, India launched an investigation over safety concerns after a spate of e-scooter fires, including one where a man and his daughter died when their e-bike “went up in flames.”
India wants e-scooters and e-bikes to make up 80% of total two-wheeler sales by 2030, from about 2% today. But concerns over safety jeopardise consumer confidence and could derail growth of a sector that is key to the country’s carbon reduction goals. [bold added]
https://thewire.in/energy/faulty-battery-cells-modules-likely-caused-e-scooter-fire-in-india-initial-probe-finds
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Telegraph: Most electric scooters in India use lithium-ion batteries which have been found to degrade and set alight more easily when charged regularly in temperatures exceeding 30°C.
A spokesperson for an electric scooter company in the city of Bengaluru told the Times of India most lithium-ion batteries used in India were designed for use in countries with colder climates.
‘Manufacturing issues or the use of low quality batteries by a specific company was first blamed for the fires but this view is being increasingly disregarded as scooters produced by four firms, including Ola, have now set alight.’
May be off topic, but I saw a video recently claiming there is only one company that makes electric motorcycles. All other brands contract with them to make theirs to spec and put their badging on. Et tu, scuté?
‘India’s transport ministry has ordered a government investigation into the deadly fires while three manufacturers have recalled over 6,600 scooters over safety fears.’
Wait . . . there’s only 6,600 of them? And they are going to be India’s savior ?!?!
BWTM: ‘Exploding’ is not supported by anything in the article. Journalism school teaches you’ll get more clicks if you say ‘exploding.’
Reblogged this on Climate Collections.
A butane torch will be hotter than 30°C. Like 1400°C hotter.
True, but it’s about pressure as well.
Maybe get an EV instead? Could take time…
MAY 11, 2022
Electric car supplies are running out. This could drastically slow the journey to net-zero
https://techxplore.com/news/2022-05-electric-car-drastically-journey-net-zero.html