Three all-electric pickups burned all the way down to husks of their former selves
by Stephen Rivers
7 hours in the past
by Stephen Rivers
Newly launched police bodycam footage has revealed dramatic pictures of three melted Ford F-150 Lightning pickup vehicles, which burned to a crisp whereas on a pre-delivery lot in Dearborn on February 4th. The incident had led to a five-week shutdown of Lightning manufacturing and deliveries.
Ford initially remained tight-lipped about the reason for its manufacturing and supply pause for the F-150 Lightning. It was later revealed {that a} single-vehicle fireplace was on the coronary heart of the priority. Nonetheless, by the tip of February, the problem was traced again to an issue that originated at battery provider SK On.
The Detroit carmaker referred to as the issue a uncommon incidence and recalled 18 vehicles with suspect battery cells. Immediately, a brand new video is exhibiting simply how critical a priority a battery fireplace will be. Initially obtained by CNBC by a Freedom of data act request, the video reveals officers arrive and react to the preliminary fireplace.
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“There was just one [vehicle on fire] once we bought right here. They’re catching. It’s these frickin’ batteries,” a responding officer says. We are able to hear different statements about how tough the fireplace can be to place out. “We’re not placing this f—er out. Take a look at it,” stated one other responder. “They must put like a complete f—ing lake on it to place them out,” the identical officer stated in the course of the occasion. The hearth burned scorching sufficient and lengthy sufficient that one automobile was barely recognizable afterward.
Ford advised regulators that its engineering crew de-energized the battery and finally used computed tomography to find out the final word supply of the preliminary fireplace. Additional testing revealed the potential hazard for these 18 vehicles and that different manufacturing models didn’t have the flaw.
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“Along with SK On, we confirmed the basis causes and swiftly carried out high quality actions,” Ford advised CNBC in an announcement. “The Rouge Electrical Automobile Heart has been again up and working since March 13 and is again to full manufacturing and transport autos to clients.”
Battery fires are a priority that each one EV producers have to stay diligent about. Whereas they’re rarer than fires related to inside combustion automobiles, they are often significantly more durable to place out. Oftentimes, fires can begin when battery cells get broken in a crash or accident.
“This can be a huge problem globally,” Michael O’Brian, board member of the Worldwide Hearth Chiefs Affiliation, who leads fireplace and life security advised the information stattion. “We have to higher perceive what the most effective processes are by testing and analysis with actual firefighters.”
In some instances, manufacturing flaws could cause a lot greater points. For instance, Chevrolet halted manufacturing of its Bolt EV for months because it labored to right simply such a difficulty.