bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

The Norwegian shipping company, Havila Kystruten, has banned electric, hybrid, and hydrogen cars from its ferries. After a risk analysis, it was concluded that the risk to the safety of the shipping fleet was too significant. If a vehicle catches fire, the fire can no longer be extinguished.

The risks for ships from the t***sport of Electric cars (EV) have been discussed since the “Felicity Ace” sank off the Azores, Portugal, last February. E-vehicles on board had caught fire. The fire could not be extinguished. Finally, the colossal ship sank with thousands of electric cars, including Porsche and Bentley “green” vehicles.

Capt. Rahul Khanna, global head of marine consulting at Allianz (AGCS), a marine insurance specialist, explains that the problem with EVs is that lithium-ion batteries in the cars can actually propagate the fire, igniting more vigorously as compared to conventional cars. A single vehicle fire could prove catastrophic.

E-cars are a danger for ship passengers

According to a report by the TradeWinds shipping news service, Havila’s Chief executive Bent Martini said the risk analysis showed that the fire in an electric car required a particularly complex rescue operation. The crew on board could not afford this. Passengers would also be at risk. This is different for vehicles with combustion engines. A possible fire is usually easy to fight by the ship’s crew.

After the sinking of the “Felicity Ace,” Greenpeace also warned against e-cars on ships: “In general, electronic components and especially electric vehicles pose a risk for every t***sport.”

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Had no idea it was so bad. Thankfully, I don’t see an EV in my future.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Neither do I!

Flyerace Loc: Mt Pleasant, WI

EV t***sportation still has a long way to go. The US is jumping the line by producing a vehicle which has very short distance expectations (less than 300 miles per charge), inadequate charging stations (quick charge capable) and horrible fire complications. I've also read that many insurance companies are declaring EV cars that have had even a minor accident that damaged the battery, a TOTAL LOSS. Off to the dumping ground. Where are all these Li batteries going to die? These demands to switch to EV are premature. We don't yet have the infrastructure to handle them.

My sister has a Tesla, one of the first. It is a great car and fun to drive. They lived in Houston and have a condo in Ft Worth. They have to stop off and charge for an hour to make it all the way to Ft Worth. I'll consider one after the mileage expectation is 500 miles on one charge.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

I still think that hydrogen will be the way to go.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you’ve ever experienced a LI Ion fire up close and discovered how hard it is to extinguish, you’d never charge one in your garage. And you wouldn’t want to be in one if an accident punctured the case. The fire is immediate (think a few seconds) and fierce, and it takes a LOT of water to extinguish.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

About 28 people per 100,000 died by motor vehicle in 1970. That was one of the worst years in history for motor vehicle deaths.

About 11.5 people per 100,000 died by motor vehicle in 2019. That was one of the best. 2020 was better, for obvious reasons. (C***d kept people off the road.)

Still, almost 43,000 people died by vehicle in 2021.

My point is that many engineers have worked tirelessly to improve automotive safety since the 1960s. No doubt, many engineers are hard at work, finding ways to solve or at least mitigate the battery flammability issues.

I probably wouldn't buy a Tesla, but more because of shoddy craftsmanship and Elon's evil than anything else. But at some point, electric vehicles will make sense, and manufacturers will find ways to make them safe(r) for t***sport.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I’m sure - possibly a different battery technology. And the electrical grid will need to be enhanced if it’s to supply the same amount of energy currently carried by the gasoline/diesel fuel network. I’m all for reducing our carbon emissions, but the dates mandated, especially in California, seem optimistic to me. Also the energy used to charge them needs to be produced by energy sources other than fossi fuels if it’s going to make a sizable difference in carbon emissions. If I were to replace either vehicle right now, it would be a hybrid, perhaps a plug in one.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It's probably going to take a lot longer than some people think. But we have to set some goals, or we'll never really get there. We have to remember that it took 120+ years to advance internal combustion engines to today's standards, and to build all the infrastructure that enables their use. We're a lot more advanced than that, but it'll still take time to re-engineer it.

I highly recommend hybrids. My wife and I drive them. My twins drive them. My in-laws have three of them. We all love them.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I’ve had 3 Lexi (or Lexuses) and we still have my wife’s ES350. It only has 63K miles, but when I replace it, I’d probably buy a Lexus hybrid (unless there’s new technology available).

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The 2023 ES 300h is getting rave reviews on YouTube. https://youtu.be/1PJtq7HX-rw is a sample.

My son drives a 2013 ES 300h that he found in 2019 with 52,000 miles on it, at a really good price, just before used car prices spiked. Our mechanic found it to be in pristine condition. It had been serviced by the book at the Lexus dealership. The Mazda dealership that sold it didn't know what sort of gem they had. It has been absolutely flawless. It's the sort of car I wish we could have found two of.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I can’t say enough good things about Lexus or the local dealership. Bought my first one in ‘93 when they first came out. My son took it to school after first me and then my wife had finished with it. Sold it with 278K miles and still going strong. Our second one was totaled when my wife was T boned in the driver’s side hard enough to break the B pillar, but she walked away without a scratch, partly because of the side air bag. My wife’s ES350 is a 2008, but no reason to trade it yet as it only has 63K and looks and runs like new. In my opinion (and to quote Road and Track), “Toyota is making the best cars in the world”.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Consumer Reports, Scotty Kilmer (YouTube mechanic) and Car Care Nut (YouTube mechanic) all agree with you, me, and Road and Track.

Woodworm65 Loc: Lombard, IL

I have a friend(since retired) from UL LABS, they did extensive testing of the lithium batteries and the general consensus was do not charge them in your garage every EV car has the potential to cause a fire, and no way can it be put out by conventional means this also goes for solar battery back up systems the evidence is out there you just need to find it every fire department knows the risks yet the government keeps pushing for EV vehicles does it not make you wonder who is in there back pockets.
Until the EV makers can make a sustainable battery not made from a source that cost millions to mine and is not sustainable I would never buy an EV.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There's new battery technology that's about to make an appearance - cheaper and safer. Lithium batteries are way too dangerous. They can no longer be carried in the cargo area of planes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=new+battery+technology&oq=new+battery+technology&aqs=edge..69i57j0i512l7j69i64.6174j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8