Hybrid Fire in the Garage - ever think about it?

[Headbanger]

You might want to do more research. These statistics have been called into question and the quoted source is not correct.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40163966/cars-catching-fire-new-york-times-real-statistics/

I appreciate you fact checking for me. I never said it was the fact, only that I saw an article and asked if anyone ever thought about it. Even if it’s completely bogus, it got me to think.

I see it’s unanimous that it’s not a concern here and that’s the piece of mind I was looking for. It’s better to go to the source when something comes up.

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[Headbanger]

Because of the HV battery these vehicles are tested more and to a higher standard than traditional vehicles, and they are under higher scrutiny.

I hate to say it, but would you rather fly in a Boeing that has been in the news recently but is under immense scrutiny right now? Or some other plane that is quietly flying "under the radar"?

I certainly wouldn’t fly on a 737 max, regardless of how much it’s scrutinized. Some of their own mechanics won’t board one. I see your point though and know you’re very knowledgeable about hybrids.

 

[fossil]

I certainly wouldn’t fly on a 737 max, regardless of how much it’s scrutinized. Some of their own mechanics won’t board one. I see your point though and know you’re very knowledgeable about hybrids.

Interesting, I imagine there are some number of Ford mechanics that wouldn't buy a Maverick Hybrid even after the all the safety scrutiny it has been under, yet you did.
I suppose you could have been unaware of it's history when you bought but you are now.

 

[Aherpa]

Not anymore thought than I gave the recall notice about my '97 F150 that said, bring it in and we will disconnect the cruise control to avoid the engine catching fire while parked and the truck is not running. . . with that truck and the car there was about 55 gallons of gas in the garage.

 

[surfstar]

You might want to do more research. These statistics have been called into question and the quoted source is not correct.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40163966/cars-catching-fire-new-york-times-real-statistics/

Exactly.

You don't have to be a professional statistician to notice that these AutoInsuranceEZ numbers look a wee bit questionable. Because, EVs and hybrids aside, if 1530 conventional internal-combustion cars (aka, "most of the cars") are catching fire per 100,000 vehicles, that would equate to millions of car fires each year—as of 2020, there were roughly 270 million registered passenger vehicles in the US. Imagine that: You'd definitely know someone whose car caught fire. Maybe your car caught fire. It might be on fire right now! "Oh, another car fire," you'd say, driving past the third conflagration of your morning commute.

 

[surfstar]

I appreciate you fact checking for me. I never said it was the fact, only that I saw an article and asked if anyone ever thought about it. Even if it’s completely bogus, it got me to think.

I see it’s unanimous that it’s not a concern here and that’s the piece of mind I was looking for. It’s better to go to the source when something comes up.

Maybe add a link to the C&D article and update your OP to include a note that the article you read seems ... not true? Many people read a post or two and reply and will never know - kinda how crazy theories keep spreading...

 

[Headbanger]

Maybe add a link to the C&D article and update your OP to include a note that the article you read seems ... not true? Many people read a post or two and reply and will never know - kinda how crazy theories keep spreading...

Done..

 

[Phimosis]

You might want to do more research. These statistics have been called into question and the quoted source is not correct.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40163966/cars-catching-fire-new-york-times-real-statistics/

you are claiming the quoted source (Auto EZ) is not correct because you are taking at face value, and believing, the reporting by car and driver. But it is clear that the author of the car and driver either did not read the auto EZ report, or if they read it, they didn’t understand it. The car and driver author says,

“these AutoInsuranceEZ numbers look a wee bit questionable. Because, EVs and hybrids aside, if 1530 conventional internal-combustion cars (aka, "most of the cars") are catching fire per 100,000 vehicles, that would equate to millions of car fires each year—as of 2020, there were roughly 270 million registered passenger vehicles in the US.”

But the auto EZ report does not say 1,530 ICE vehicle fires per 100,000 car on the road per year. It specifically lists this statistic as 1,530 ICE cars per 100,000 ICE vehicles sold. That is a “for the life of the vehicle” measurement, not a “per year” measurement. In 2023, there were 14.5 million cars and light trucks sold in the US. 1.4 million of them were “new energy vehicles” so 13.1 million were ICE vehicles. 13.1 million / 100,000 X 1531 = 200,561. According to US fire Administration.gov, in 2022, there were 222,000 vehicle fires. I am betting that the 200,551 number is subtracting out the estimated number of EV fires from the total published by the fire administration. So these numbers do check out, even if the methodology is unconventional. Because they used the same methodology to calculate the fire risk for EV’s and hybrids, it is a somewhat fair comparison. The thing that makes the comparison not completely fair is that EV’s are new to market, which means the number of older and fire prone vehicles is not there yet, compared to 30 year old gas powered cars that catch fire at a much higher rate than brand new cars. This is why they later admitted that the ICE risk had been overestimated and they revised it downward.

So anywho, the car and driver article started by saying that you don’t need to be a professional statistician to think these numbers look suspect. Turns out that the author is right, that you don’t have to be a statistician, but you do need to at least have a basic understanding of statistics and it is clear that this author doesn’t have even a rudimentary understanding of statistics. Conversely, insurance companies always employ professional statisticians. They make their money by using actuarial data to make rate premiums that will be profitable to the company. I’m betting that statisticians looked over their data more than once.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Saw it on the news today. A garage which was under part of the house went up.
Care to guess what brand of car was in the garage?

I know, I know, it could have been spontaneous combustion of some old Mechanics Illustrated magazines. SURELY it wasn't the totally destroyed Tesla. Wanna bet?

 

[mspmms]

Hybrid Fire in the Garage - ever think about it?

Ya' know - there was this song
Meme => link

Spoiler

 

[The Real Maverick]

I wonder how many fires are because people walked away from their hybrid with it still turned "on".

Later, something gas engine, tailpipe got hot, and ignited something in the garage like clothing or newspaper?

(how many people line their garage floor with newspaper to absorb oil drips?) Statistics don't mean much without context.

Most cases probably have nothing to do with the hybrid battery.

This is an interesting catch-22.
Automakers including Ford have started implementing "auto shut off" after 30 minutes idle time. This has some people complaining they can't enjoy a drive-in movie without being interrupted every 30 minutes.

 

[LarryS]

I sleep in a water filled bathtub outside the house because there are so many things that could start a fire. Oh dear, I just thought of lightening.....

 

[electruc]

Yes the thought does cross one's mind, but much less so for a hybrid vehicle than a full EV. The risk should be quite low but after years of wear and tear does the risk go up? The concern is compounded due to the nature of Lithium-ion fires being hard to put out. One sees reports of EVs getting "totaled" after a minor looking dent on the outside of the battery compartment, so it is not a risk that I totally ignore. In passing I have seen headlines of EVs being banned from certain partking garages or ocean ferries, but did not see hybrids included (though I did no research).

I do not yet own a hybrid or EV, but I owned one of those gasoline Fords that was such a fire hazard that there was a big recall and Ford told owners to park outside (IIRC from a short in wiring in the steering column). So there is always some risk.

 

[Poultrygeist]

I would never give up my workspace and audio listening room for automobiles. I did park two cars there once but only because of a hurricane warning.

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