A Converted Plug-in Prius Catches on Fire in South Carolina
A converted plug-in Prius was destroyed by an ' internal fire that occured during a routine drive. ' The PHEV was owned by Central ...
https://iskablogs.blogspot.com/2008/06/a-converted-plug-in-prius-catches-on.html
A converted plug-in Prius was destroyed by an 'internal fire that occured during a routine drive.' The PHEV was owned by Central Electric Power Cooperative in Columbia, SC and the hybrid had a Hybrids-Plus PHEV15 conversion kit.
The fire started in the back seat and the driver quickly exited. There was a 'subsequent explosion.' According to ABG, the 'fire may have been triggered by something related to the on-board battery charger and the car had previously experienced some mechanical issues related to that.'
This is bad news for those companies that are trying to develop a conversion kit for hybrids. While car fires are nothing new, there is a special concern for plug-in vehicles. The plug-in industry is in a delicate place right now. If a plug-in car from a major player (say GM or Toyota, which this wasn't) caught on fire, it could do irreparable damage to the future of plug-ins.
But the good news (other than no one was hurt) is it wasn't the battery that overheated, but the charger.
It's stories like this that should be at the forefront of GM development of the Volt. I was happy when I heard that Toyota had decided to slow down (a bit) in their development of a plug-in. From all reports, GM is pushing the Volt hard to finish on time. While I'm quite sure they are being careful with all the electrical systems, one short circuit could kill the marketplace before it has a chance to grow.
The fire started in the back seat and the driver quickly exited. There was a 'subsequent explosion.' According to ABG, the 'fire may have been triggered by something related to the on-board battery charger and the car had previously experienced some mechanical issues related to that.'
This is bad news for those companies that are trying to develop a conversion kit for hybrids. While car fires are nothing new, there is a special concern for plug-in vehicles. The plug-in industry is in a delicate place right now. If a plug-in car from a major player (say GM or Toyota, which this wasn't) caught on fire, it could do irreparable damage to the future of plug-ins.
But the good news (other than no one was hurt) is it wasn't the battery that overheated, but the charger.
It's stories like this that should be at the forefront of GM development of the Volt. I was happy when I heard that Toyota had decided to slow down (a bit) in their development of a plug-in. From all reports, GM is pushing the Volt hard to finish on time. While I'm quite sure they are being careful with all the electrical systems, one short circuit could kill the marketplace before it has a chance to grow.
