I think that the perceived danger of lithium chemistry batteries is a combination of high energy density and no simple means of extinguishing a fire once it has started.

ICE vehicles catch fire regularly. If you have a hand held extinguisher you can normally tackle the fire yourself. If it has gone too far the fire brigade can quickly and completely extinguish it. There appear to have been a couple of multi-story car park incidents where a combination of plastic fuel tanks and badly designed drains allowed a significant spread.

Currently there is no means to extinguish an EV battery fire. Removing the oxygen source doesn’t work, it is just cooled until it finally burns out. Maybe something will be developed but until then there is significant problem with EVs in tunnels, on ferries, in underground car parks, etc.

Large scale battery systems in buildings have typically been lead acid with some nickel iron. These are storing a large amount of energy and are capable of starting fires. There is generally very little flammable material in the batteries themselves. The electrolytes do pose a chemical hazard however I think this is generally dealt with by dilution with large amounts of water. These batteries would normally be installed in dedicated battery rooms designed for the purpose.

The spread of domestic scale lithium chemistry batteries brings two problems together, one they are installed wherever there is space and two as with EVs there is currently no means of extinguishing a fire when it starts. As Andy says I am not sure if they would be a significant problem if the fire starts somewhere else. They may be a problem for the fire brigade as they are an energy source that they may not be able to isolate. In some circumstances the fire brigade call on the electricity supplier to make an external cut to the incoming cable. If they know there is a battery they may decide not to enter. If they don’t know there is a battery they will be put at risk.

The smaller lithium chemistry battery systems that are used in Ebikes and scooters, laptops, drones etc. have enough stored energy to start a significant fire involving surrounding flammable materials and again there is no means of extinguishing them. Maybe they can be thrown out of a window?

Is there a solution to extinguishing lithium fires? There are extinguishants for pyrophoric metals like magnesium or potassium but they may not work with the specific chemistries.

I think that the perceived danger of lithium chemistry batteries is a combination of high energy density and no simple means of extinguishing a fire once it has started.

ICE vehicles catch fire regularly. If you have a hand held extinguisher you can normally tackle the fire yourself. If it has gone too far the fire brigade can quickly and completely extinguish it. There appear to have been a couple of multi-story car park incidents where a combination of plastic fuel tanks and badly designed drains allowed a significant spread.

Currently there is no means to extinguish an EV battery fire. Removing the oxygen source doesn’t work, it is just cooled until it finally burns out. Maybe something will be developed but until then there is significant problem with EVs in tunnels, on ferries, in underground car parks, etc.

Large scale battery systems in buildings have typically been lead acid with some nickel iron. These are storing a large amount of energy and are capable of starting fires. There is generally very little flammable material in the batteries themselves. The electrolytes do pose a chemical hazard however I think this is generally dealt with by dilution with large amounts of water. These batteries would normally be installed in dedicated battery rooms designed for the purpose.

The spread of domestic scale lithium chemistry batteries brings two problems together, one they are installed wherever there is space and two as with EVs there is currently no means of extinguishing a fire when it starts. As Andy says I am not sure if they would be a significant problem if the fire starts somewhere else. They may be a problem for the fire brigade as they are an energy source that they may not be able to isolate. In some circumstances the fire brigade call on the electricity supplier to make an external cut to the incoming cable. If they know there is a battery they may decide not to enter. If they don’t know there is a battery they will be put at risk.

The smaller lithium chemistry battery systems that are used in Ebikes and scooters, laptops, drones etc. have enough stored energy to start a significant fire involving surrounding flammable materials and again there is no means of extinguishing them. Maybe they can be thrown out of a window?

Is there a solution to extinguishing lithium fires? There are extinguishants for pyrophoric metals like magnesium or potassium but they may not work with the specific chemistries.