CNBC reported today as breaking news a concern about hybrid and electric vehicle fires that professional firefighters have known about for some time.
Vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can be especially dangerous when they catch fire.
CNBC offers a video showing smoke billowing from three electric pickups parked tightly together.
Moments later, flames shoot several feet above the vehicles, which were unoccupied.
Fires involving EV batteries can burn hotter and longer and require new techniques to extinguish, posing a growing challenge to first responders.
Hybrid electrics, which have both a high voltage battery and an internal combustion engine, have a 3.4% likelihood of vehicle fires according to a study, far higher than either internal combustion or electric alone.
Spontaneous combustion of an EV battery is unlikely, but collisions are a concern. Continue reading