Lithium Battery Fire: Why Do These Keep Happening?

Did you see? It happened again. On Tuesday, a truck carrying literal tons of lithium batteries caught fire after a crash, shutting down a portion of the 95 which is a major issue for people who were traveling to and from Reno. Don't confuse that lithium battery fire with the one that happened on Interstate 15 in July that had the road shut down for nearly two days.

Obviously with many of us either driving around in, or considering driving, an electric car, you might want to know why these fires are so outrageous.

Lithium battery fires are particularly notorious because of the chemistry involved in their construction. When a lithium battery catches fire, it’s not your average blaze. These batteries are packed with energy-dense materials, which means they have a lot of power in a small package.

When a lithium battery fire starts, it can be incredibly difficult to extinguish due to the chemical reactions within the battery. These reactions can generate a significant amount of heat, which then feeds back into the reaction, creating a vicious cycle. It's like a tiny, angry inferno that just won't take no for an answer, or water as an extinguisher.

Lithium batteries contain flammable electrolytes, and when these materials are exposed to air, especially when the battery casing is damaged, they can ignite explosively. The high energy density, combined with potential manufacturing defects, improper handling, or exposure to extreme temperatures, can lead to catastrophic failures.

Before you start eyeing your gadgets with suspicion, it's important to remember that lithium battery technology is generally quite stable and safe. Millions of devices use lithium batteries without incident every day. Advances in battery technology and safety measures continue to improve, making lithium batteries a reliable power source for everything from smartphones to electric toothbrushes.

The key is recognizing when something is damaged enough where the integrity of the battery is jeopardized. A puncture to the battery in your often dropped phone could cause a short but wild fire that looks like the re-entrance of Satan to Earth. Driving your Tesla over a jagged piece of metal could potentially puncture the protective cover underneath the car. One cell goes, the whole car may go.

When it comes to cars, the NTSB estimates that there are 25 electric car fires per 100,000 sold. Gas cars? Try over 1500 fires per 100,000 sold. Although it is worth noting gasoline fires tend to be easier to put out. Still, the difference is staggering.

So, while it’s good to be aware of the potential risks, you don’t need to panic. Just treat your devices with care, avoid extreme conditions, don't make the truck next to you tip over and remember: your car or phone isn’t plotting against you—probably.

The "Electric Blue Bomb." That was what I named my first car.

The Electric Blue Bomb. It was a used 1972 electric blue Mustang 2 Hatchback, with manual transmission. No AC, but it did have an 8-track player. I had to keep a matchbook in it for it to work, of course, but it was great. Very high tech!

I taught dozens of people how to drive a "stick" in my Electric Blue Bomb. To this day those old high school pals remind of this whenever we get together. It's a fun memory that I will truly cherish forever. And yes - I can still drive a manual transmission, and still teach anyone.

I would also pile people in the hatchback to go to lunch, the drive-in - a party at Julie's house - wherever we needed to be.

Does your car not have a name? Why? It's apparently a sign of love.  A poll literally found that people who love their car are more likely to name it

49% of people who have a car they love have given it a name.  That's compared to 20% of people who just kind of "like" their car, and 14% who really don't like their car.

The poll found the #1 thing we consider when naming our car is its "personality." Make and model is next, followed by how it performs.

1.  Personality: What is the feel of your car, and the essence of that ride.

2.  Make and model: Someone named their Kia Forte "Will"- after Will Forte.

3.  How it performs. Is it fast? Perhaps Zippy," or "Bolt," or "Jet."

Need some ideas on what to name your car? Men and women have different favorites, but there's definitely a name for every car- just like kids.

Here are some of the most popular, and fun car names for 2024. Although, all of them could probably also work for baby names.

If you have a black, or charcoal car, this seems to be a popular name.  

Yes, the complete opposite of "Shadow." I have a white car. I love "Snowball," but I went with "Betty White."

Do you have a red car? "Ruby" is a perfect name. I had a friend back in college who named her red car "rhubarb." Cute and catchy for a little red VW bug.

Still driving that old, reliable station wagon from back in the day? Or maybe that Land Cruiser is still getting you around town. "Betsy" is a great name for that old, reliable vehicle. Rusty and Trusty also work.

Is your car filled with high tech? Self-driving? Self-parking? Then "Gizmo" might be the name for your car. Although I think I would go with "Jetson" or "Rosie." Cartoon kids get it.

"TANK!" The name pretty much says it all. Durable, indestructible, and can withstand a whole lot.

Just a fun name. And if your car is a fun car, you have to go with a fun name.

This one might be taken wrong. however, it's another fun name for a fun car.

Do you have a gas guzzler - or an SUV? Then this might be the car name for you! If so, I'm sorry...

The Roman goddess of dawn. A beautiful name for a car that’s a joy to get into, and drive, each and everyday! Or - just "Joy."