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Print E-mail del.icio.us 66 comment(s) - last by jlips6.. on Jun 28 at 12:12 PM
Retrofitted Toyota Prius sets itself on fire

Hybrids seem to be all the rage these days from auto manufacturers. With gas prices passing the $4.00 a gallon mark, domestic and foreign manufacturers are looking for ways to bring more fuel-efficient vehicles to the consumer market.

One promising technology that is soon to hit production will come in the form of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs). New production vehicles from General Motors and Toyota will feature onboard battery packs which can be recharged via a standard household outlet. In the case of the Chevrolet Volt, the vehicle can travel 40 miles with a fully charged battery.

Although production models are still a few years away, that hasn’t stopped third-party manufacturers from retrofitting existing hybrid vehicles to accommodate plug-in hardware. DailyTech previously reported that Lithium Technology Corporation (LTC) retrofitted a Toyota Prius to incorporate both lithium-ion batteries and plug-in technology. Likewise, UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies' Plug-In Hybrid Center sponsored a program last year to equip 100 Northern California households with plug-in Priuses.

Testing of the various Priuses retrofitted to accept plug-in modules have gone relatively smoothly -- until now. The Cooperative Research Network (CRN) reports that a Toyota Prius PHEV owned by Central Electric Power Cooperative (CEPC) and retrofitted with a Hybrids-Plus PHEV15 conversion kit exploded on June 7.

The Prius in question had previously been experiencing charger-related malfunctions, but was still allowed to operate in the test fleet. On its final voyage, the driver noticed that the back seat caught on fire -- the driver then quickly pulled over to the side of the road and was able to exit the vehicle. Shortly after the driver fled the vehicle, "there was a subsequent explosion" according to CRN.

There was little damage to the A123-manufactured lithium-ion battery pack which suggests that some other hybrid component could have been the cause of the fire and subsequent explosion -- this could be somewhat of a relief to many who still express reservations with regards to installing numerous lithium-ion cells in passenger vehicles.

Unfortunately, there was no data logger present on the Prius so it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire. Hopefully, the data gathered as the investigation goes forward will allow future PHEV auto manufacturers to provide us all with safe, reliable vehicles.

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This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
By JasonMick (blog) on 6/18/2008 3:10:57 PM , Rating: 5
You're strapped into a bomb. Gas tanks and especially lithium ion batteries are as bad or worse.

On a funny/sad note, how much must that tester's job suck.

"Here we have this badly malfunction car, with a large pack of highly flammable/explosive batteries -- go drive it until something fails!"

Hopefully he has some good life insurance O_o




By 67STANG on 6/18/2008 3:33:49 PM , Rating: 5
This just in... Ford is interested in this car. They say it has nothing to do with the rumors of bringing back the Pinto.


By Smartless on 6/18/2008 3:39:48 PM , Rating: 3
"Silence, I KILL YOU!" ~Achmed the Dead Terrorist

So wait if its plug-in, do they still have gas tanks?


By exanimas on 6/18/2008 11:00:23 PM , Rating: 4
The way you phrased that made it seem as if the car can only be operated while plugged in... Now I can't wait until they make a cordless model!


By Carter642 on 6/18/2008 4:08:15 PM , Rating: 5
Exactly like a bomb, except for the part about gas tanks and Li batteries exploding. Gasoline burns, gasoline VAPOR explodes. While Li batteries can explode, if vented properly they just tend to burn not to mention that they're the most heavily protected part of the car.

This isn't some hollywood style action movie explosion here!

There was an R8 prototype that "exploded" on the ring and no one is declaring it a bomb. This is really a non-story, a prototype vehicle burned up, it happens regularly.


By teldar on 6/18/2008 6:04:03 PM , Rating: 5
Damn you and your use of reason.

You should be contributing to being a rumor monger as all other peoples are.

T


By bigboxes on 6/18/2008 6:44:36 PM , Rating: 5
You are incorrect. I used to watch CHiPs when I was a kid and explosions were all too frequent (as well has car flips) so I should know.


By paydirt on 6/19/2008 10:28:10 AM , Rating: 2
boom boom, shake shake the room!


one lucky day..
By kattanna on 6/18/2008 3:19:39 PM , Rating: 2
can you imagine what the poor person thought when they looked in their rear view mirror to see the back seats on fire.. pull over, and shortly after exiting the vehicle, it explodes?

WOW

i say its time for that person to go get a lottery ticket with luck like that.




RE: one lucky day..
By SilthDraeth on 6/18/08, Rating: 0
RE: one lucky day..
By elpresidente2075 on 6/18/2008 4:14:15 PM , Rating: 5
I'm sure shortly after the explosion, a big truck drove by with some guys shooting various automatic weapons at the former driver. As the driver realizes this situation, he returns fire with his Desert Eagle, and despite the complete inaccuracy of the baddies, he hits the driver squarely between the eyeballs with his first shot. This sends the truck careening over the median into a gasoline truck, thus exploding the gasoline in the truck and the dynamite the guys had in the bed (they were gonna throw it at our hero)...

I think we have the beginnings of a pretty great action movie: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hybrid Power


RE: one lucky day..
By kattanna on 6/18/2008 4:21:32 PM , Rating: 2
sadly.. that scene you just laid out sounds more exciting then some movies that have been released


RE: one lucky day..
By Darkefire on 6/18/2008 9:30:47 PM , Rating: 2
Go sell that sucker. Pitch it as a combination action flick and environmental message movie, and you'll have Hollywood execs salivating.


Word
By MisterModder on 6/24/2008 11:22:58 AM , Rating: 2
This is why I'm hot.




RE: Word
By MisterModder on 6/24/2008 11:23:15 AM , Rating: 2
This is why


RE: Word
By MisterModder on 6/24/2008 11:23:43 AM , Rating: 2
This is Y


RE: Word
By MisterModder on 6/24/2008 11:24:12 AM , Rating: 2
This is wai aiym hawt.


RE: Word
By jlips6 on 6/28/2008 12:12:46 PM , Rating: 2
this is why I don't listen to crap rap


Look no further than the guy driving the vehicle
By cparka23 on 6/18/2008 4:55:24 PM , Rating: 4
The driver probably threw his cigarette out the window only to have it fly back into the car through the rear window. I've seen it a million times...




By Mk4ever on 6/18/2008 11:57:52 PM , Rating: 2
Well, it's either you have a weird thing with enjoying to watch people driving and smoking, or your last sentence should read: "I've done it a million times..."

In the second possibility, you also still have a weird problem... ;)


Awesome
By BMFPitt on 6/18/2008 4:33:10 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
On its final voyage, the driver noticed that the back seat caught on fire
That is such a great quote.