Another comment made on chemical reaction causing the fire is bogus!!! The fire is electrical in nature, and as long as there is power, and heat to compromise the cells, it is impossible to put it out!!! The job of a fire crew is to keep water on the site until It has cooled down. We all know water does not react well with electricity, so we know they won't put it out, just control collateral damage.
One more thing! Lower risk doesn't mean no risk. I was shown videos of LTO batteries having holes drilled in them, many in fact!!! Then it happened! Low risk? Yes, no risk, no!!!
Heat has different impacts on the cells, depending on the chemistry. This is why some lithium battery types have “thermal runaway”, one cell exploding (due to the chemistry type changing size in a non-linear way as it discharges/charges) then causes the next cell to overheat and change size, discharge too fast, then damage the next cell…
Look at this from Wikipedia:
“As lithium migrates out of the cathode in a LiCoO2 cell, the CoO2 undergoes
non-linear expansion that affects the structural integrity of the cell. The fully lithiated and unlithiated states of LiFePO4 are structurally similar which means that LiFePO4 cells are more structurally stable than LiCoO2 cells.[
citation needed]
No lithium remains in the cathode of a fully charged LFP cell. In a LiCoO2 cell, approximately 50% remains. LiFePO4 is highly resilient during oxygen loss, which typically results in an exothermic reaction in other lithium cells.
[18] As a result, LiFePO4 cells are harder to ignite in the event of mishandling (especially during charge). The LiFePO4 battery does not
decompose at high temperatures.
[32]”
The point is: one lithium chemistry battery type is not the same as another. When we see stories of runaway lithium batteries it is almost always one of the other battery chemistries (not LFeP).
Can LFeP batteries burn? Sure
Can lead acid batteries create hydrogen gas and cause an explosion? Sure
Can stored gasoline in a can explode? Sure
Lithium isn’t causing some uncontrollable big risk, anymore than gasoline is causing a risk. We need to understand the risk and how to mitigate the risk. I realize that sensationalism gets clicks/views and generates revenue. Just want people to realize that the LFeP batteries that may be in our RVs are not as dangerous as that video originally posted may lead some people to believe.
We all have our opinions and views, want to help alleviate unnecessary worrying and help educate on the very different lithium battery types and risk levels between these forms of energy storage.
