Live in NH and a neighbor kid was driving his dad's Tesla with three other kids. He hit a patch of ice and was going a little too fast. Car slid into tree and wrapped around tree. Three got out, seat belt rash was about about all. Girl about 18 got caught in seat as door wouldn't open and car caught fire from damaged batteries. First fireman got there fairly quickly and she had bad burns, took her to hospital and she died a couple days later from burns and fumes. Fire department would put one part of fire out and a couple minutes later it would restart. Some one tried the old pull the fire apart and put it out. He escaped as it almost blew up. Long story short, they let the fire burn out. Here i a discussion of lithium fires in cars. Why Teslas keep catching on fire The fact remains as they become more common and they get the bugs out of them the idea of a light e pickup makes sense. If there isn't an emp, or if you prepare for one, the idea of a motor recharged with solar cells that are getting both cheaper and more reliable makes sense for at least the first few years. Can also use cells for other uses if you are limiting the use of the pickup. I am sure at some point someone has or will make a solar cell for the homestead that is as efficient and as modular as those for a car and with efficiency of scale that they have to achieve for the auto industries, the price will have to come down. Here is the blurb on the Tesla Powerwall at this time. 2024 How Long Can You Run Your House on a Tesla Powerwall? And a blurb on Tesla charging their cars at a variable rate using excess power for charger. Tesla launches ‘Charge on Solar’ to charge your cars with sunshine At the moment there are some major dangers in the safety and fire dangers that would in my mind off set any advantages. This besides successful attempts to destroy your system. one bullet could cause a fire that you can't put out. Would limit their use in my case. I am not happy with the limited life of the lead acid batteries either. Some major plant fires. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...orea-battery-plant-yonhap-reports-2024-06-24/
Ya know ,, I'm all for finding better , safer, more efficient ways to power our ways of life . I still think drilling for oil is best , so far . Fracking seems to maybe have more dangerous effects ,, it seems that causes more earthquake effects , in those areas . But all this battery stuff ,, from the amount of land it destroys to mine for lithium,, the amount of fossil fuels used to mine for lithium,, the safety or dangers of lithium batteries ,,, the dangers of a lithium battery fire ,, the hardships of containing a lithium fire . And the runoff of chemicals to put out a lithium fire . The lack of recyclable properties of lithium batteries. It just doesn't seem to me that there's a major gain in the use of this technology. Maybe down the road somewhere. But right now ,, I don't see it . It's a good concept ,, just not plausible in thinking . Anyone else think like this ,, or am I not seeing the big picture here ??
I would never go full EV personally just too many drawbacks and cost side cost involved with it. That being said I am impressed as hell with the 2025 Camry Hybrid. No Plug in Required, uses regenerative braking to charge the battery half if the braking is not keeping up the gas half picks up the charging. I am averaging 56 MPG with it now. It runs primarily in EV mode in town and 30ish % EV on the highway. The computer controls the back and forth. I got the AWD Model and it has two independent electric motors on on each rear wheel also controlled by the computer. It does have a fair sized Lithium Battery in the engine compartment. From my perspective and IMO Toyota is on the best track and has the right idea with the No Plug in Hybrid Models. Also they can be fairly affordable with the bare bones low end trim package starting at $28,000. I went with the XSE Trim, added the AWD, Sun Roof, 5 year Service plan and pretty much every option and enhancement available and it came it at $44,000. Can switch between ECO Mode (Combo EV and Gas) EV Mode Only only good for in town driving, or Sport Mode that is all gas engine. The AWD Gives it 232 Net HP the non AWD Standard models have 206hp and FWD. It has sensors that monitor the battery Temp, Integrity and Stability and runs the battery at 1/3 Charge in ECO Mode and full charge in EV Mode. I have no idea at what point this happens but if the battery gets too warm, is over charging or getting unstable the computer disconnects the battery and automatically puts the gar in gas only Sport Mode and plots a course to the nearest toyota dealership for you. They do offer all kinds of extended warranties beyond the base 10 year warranty. So basically everything including the battery and electronic on mine are under full warranty for 10 years. I have put 8,000 miles on it since taking possession of it the last week of April and not had a single issue with it and the MPG just keeps getting better. Very few No Plug In Hybrid vehicles out there to choose from in the USA If I could have gotten on of the 90+ MPG European Diesel Hybrids I would have one of those instead of the Camry but as it is the Camry was the absolute best choice available IMO. Everything I researched about straight EVs just turned me totally off to them. From Charging to the VERY LONG list of common malfunctions to them basically being rolling fire bombs. LOL if I forget to plug it in I am just stuck until it charges. If I forget to put gas in the Hybrid I can drive in EV mode the 7 Miles to down keeping it under 40mph to fill the tank up. The Dealership I use has a 2024 model that they intentionally over charge and simulate battery integrity failure to show how the Toyota Technology senses problems and stops them before they become major problems or life threatening. Largely due to Toyota's earlier battery problems and things like the 2 million car recall for 2022/2023 model years malfunctions. The 2024 model year corrected those issues and if anything the 2025MY is over engineered in the engine and battery safety department. LOL can debate the Modern Vehicle reliance on technology and Computers but I will take the comfort and luxury and risk of a EMP or whatever malfunction over driving my 10mpg on a Great Day 1971 IH 3/4 ton truck It is old, it is dependable and its most advanced feature is a working 12v cig lighter. I really wanted one of the Jeep Hybrids but the Plug in Hybrid and expense of a home charging station was a total deal breaker A bomb and fire in everyone's pocket.
Three idiots. What me worry, explosives going off with fire and chemicals and not even long sleeve shirts, full pants or safety glasses. Looks like a good case to check out Darwin's theory in the long run. Poking at the unknown chemicals with their bare hands, breathing in the fumes, cutting open the protective cases with steel tools and no glasses or gloves, over charging a battery until it explodes and looking for the pieces. I guess they are living proof that we have expanded our technology beyond the point that most members of our society can understand it. On the other hand, where do you think these three will be if TSHTF. Either sitting there waiting for the government to come bail them out or part of the mob. Don't see to much hope of them being contributing members of society no matter what state it is in. They do bring up a good point about the safety of the battery however. Given that they call it an accumulator rather than a battery, at least that particular bunch is safely away from me. Enjoyed your comments Kamp Krap. In our semi rural area and with cold winters, EV's haven't been a real popular car and I don't know anyone on their second one. I agree that the hybrids sound much more useful and other than the added cost of two systems operating in one vehicle, are probably the way to go.
@Kamp Krap Glad you like it,toyota makes good cars,what does scare me is "and plots a course to the nearest toyota dealership" Al new rotten cars this days spy on you.Soon you get a ticket at home that state you where driving 5 miles over the limit brr. But agree totaly on the hybritd concept.Sadly on this site of the pond the stop giving with no roadtax on full EV,s and here in the netherlands you pay by the kilogram !so a 2800 KG car is for now € 287 that is half,of the normal sum, and that is for 3 months!Soon MANY second hands E cars.
My friend bought the Jeep Hybrid, it switched back and forth from gas to electricity, (I think once you get below half a tank of gas), she PAID like $1200 to have the home charging station put in, THEN the Jeep screwed up and wouldn't switch back to electric AND nobody knew how to fix it so NOW she has another gas Jeep... they must not have the bugs worked out of them yet.
Toyota is miles ahead of everyone else in USA Gas Hybrids, Europe is miles ahead of the USA in the much better MPG performance Diesel Hybrids which are getting 80-100MPG. I am not going to complain about my Camry's 56MPG though. I would never own a Hybrid that requires a charging station and plugging in.... For that matter I would NEVER EVER own a straight EV either. The regenerative braking, friction and gas engine charging make the Camry, Lexus and Prius Hybrids the winners in my book. Dealership I use tech was telling me one Model Year of the Camry had a issue with a sensor not switching back and forth from EV-Gas-Both can't remember which year maybe 2020 or 2021 Anyway they did a recall on them and fixed the issue. Was really on the fence about getting it and first couple of Months after buying it I kind of regretted writing the $44,000 check for it...... But 9,000 miles on it now and I wouldn't not own it.
These 'long life' AA sized lithium batteries are a bomb in disguise AA Lithium Metal Battery + Water = Explosion The Li Iron are much safer.
AA battery fires from Lithium AA calls and water. The one where the dude has what looks like foil is the inner foil o wrap f such an AA cell.
