No ship fires so far have been directly blamed on EVs

[Vercingetorix]

Another ship carrying EVs catches fire. 70 electric and 681 hybrids from China. As noted in the title even the Wall Street Journal states no ship fires have been directly blamed on electrified vehicles.
https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/ship-carrying-vehicles-fire-pacific-ocean-038eee51

 

[Jetronic]

But it sure doesn't help that there are ev on there.

You can ship an ice with 1 gallon or less of fuel in it, but an EV battery fully charged or near discharged still adds the same fuel to a fire.

 

[demarpaint]

I guess we can call that good news.

 

[rijndael]

What are the side-effects, like like insurance issues, if EVs were directly tied to a fire?

This sort of seems like a situation here in the US, when something is deemed a 'natural disaster' or an 'act of god', and then insurance payouts and things change substantially.

 

[Cujet]

I don't like mealy mouthed information, statements like "no definitive evidence" or 'the cause of the fire was never definitively determined". Such may be useful in court, but when it comes to this subject, we actually have quite a bit of information.

Of the 4 EV carrying ships that burned, all of them had captains, crew members, firefighters and journalists present who noted the fires started with the EV's. Statements like: "The fire started in the battery of an electric car,” "Smoke was first observed rising from a deck containing EVs" "seven EV's were already burning when firefighters arrived" are ignored by those who like to claim the EV's are not the proximate cause. They most certainly are the cause of these fires. In some cases we even know which EV.

 

[FreedomOne]

Smells like propaganda.

 

[ME_Andy]

No kittens have died due to EVs either, as far as we know. So that's a win.

 

[alarmguy]

But it sure doesn't help that there are ev on there.

You can ship an ice with 1 gallon or less of fuel in it, but an EV battery fully charged or near discharged still adds the same fuel to a fire.

Yes.
Those batteries, even if they do not start a fire provide an endless "fuel supply" to completely destroy a ship with no hope of controlling it.
"The crew initiated emergency firefighting procedures with the ship’s onboard fire suppression system. But they were unable bring the flames under control."

More or less it would seem that it is almost like shipping dynamite. Dynamite may not start something but if it spreads to the dynamite it's all over.

We dont know if this is the case but it does seem plausible with any ship carrying hazardous materials.

 

[pantygnome]

Smells like propaganda.

*burning* propaganda

 

[fdcg27]

ICE cars do catch fire just sitting parked now and then, just like EVs. Electrical defects are a possibility in any car. HEVs may be the worst in that they combine all of the elements of a BEV and an ICE in one package.
Now, think of how complex a typical vehicle is, built up of thousands of bits and pieces which are often supplier assemblies built up out of hundreds of pieces each.
Lots of potential for things to go wrong, since defects in components and assembly will inevitably occur in some proportion of completed vehicles.
Finally, I can tell you from the years I spent as a volunteer that cars burn just great and after a couple of minutes are usually a total loss. It does not surprise me that the shipboard firefighting system could not keep up with the conflagration, and BEVs need not have been involved to bring this outcome.
Also, you can't just witlessly pour water into a hull unless your intent is to sink it through downward flooding, or capsize it.

 

[oil pan 4]

Another ship carrying EVs catches fire. 70 electric and 681 hybrids from China. As noted in the title even the Wall Street Journal states no ship fires have been directly blamed on electrified vehicles.
https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/ship-carrying-vehicles-fire-pacific-ocean-038eee51

The Maritime shipping industry went from losing a big car hauler to fire evey 6 to 10 years to losing almost one a year.
Only one thing has changed in the last several years.
Not that difficult to figure out what...

 

[PandaBear]

I guess we can call that good news.

Shipping insurance will increase to reflect that. Import vehicle shipping cost will reflect that. Domestic made cars will increase in price as their import competiton will as well. You will indirectly pay for it.

 

[PandaBear]

The Maritime shipping industry went from losing a big car hauler to fire evey 6 to 10 years to losing almost one a year.
Only one thing has changed in the last several years.
Not that difficult to figure out what...

How much is the typical insurance payout for those?

 

[demarpaint]

Shipping insurance will increase to reflect that. Import vehicle shipping cost will reflect that. Domestic made cars will increase in price as their import competiton will as well. You will indirectly pay for it.

I decided I won't be buying a new car anytime soon. I'm more concerned with the ripoff insurance rates for insuring a house and a car. That shipping loss is small in comparison to the recent fires, floods, and uninsured drivers driving on our roads driving our rates up. In the grand scheme of things that news wasn't that bad.

 

[fdcg27]

Below are some interesting links on the incidence of fires aboard these car carrier RORO ships.
While there is industry concern about the unique dangers posed by EVs, most of the fires appear to originate with ICE vehicles, including damaged used units.

https://www.lloydslist.com/LL115323...r-carrier-fire-response-from-industry-experts

https://gcaptain.com/a-brief-look-back-at-recent-car-carrier-fires/

https://gcaptain.com/ocean-shippers-playing-catch-up-to-electric-vehicle-fire-risk/

 

[Torrid]

I decided I won't be buying a new car anytime soon. I'm more concerned with the ripoff insurance rates for insuring a house and a car. That shipping loss is small in comparison to the recent fires, floods, and uninsured drivers driving on our roads driving our rates up. In the grand scheme of things that news wasn't that bad.

Cars keep getting more expensive and insurance rates just suck right now. I don't blame you on that one.

 

[alarmguy]

@demarpaint
Well, if we buy expensive cars, you’re going to pay more for insurance.

My cars are insured to the max, liability, uninsured motorist, under insured motorist, collision and comprehensive 1000 deductible.
2017 traverse and 2025 equinox
Total annual bill under $1200

It really depends on where you live, and your credit score. Of course where you live in the north east does not help.

If I remember correctly, Long Island has more attorneys per square mile than any place in the country

 

[Brons2]

Build the cars in the US, problem solved.

 

[demarpaint]

@demarpaint
Well, if we buy expensive cars, you’re going to pay more for insurance.

My cars are insured to the max, liability, uninsured motorist, under insured motorist, collision and comprehensive 1000 deductible.
2017 traverse and 2025 equinox
Total annual bill under $1200

It really depends on where you live, and your credit score. Of course where you live in the north east does not help.

If I remember correctly, Long Island has more attorneys per square mile than any place in the country

My auto insurance went up 26% this year, nothing changed, nothing. In fact the one vehicle with full coverage is a year older and worth less than it was a year ago. My cars are also covered to the max, that hasn't changed either. My credit score is in the 800's as is my wife's, so we can't blame that. The way I see it greed and the sins of others drove those rates up. Regarding L.I. and attorney's you got that right, everything else I pretty much covered.

 

[Torrid]

My auto insurance went up 26% this year, nothing changed, nothing. In fact the one vehicle with full coverage is a year older and worth less than it was a year ago. My cars are also covered to the max, that hasn't changed either. My credit score is in the 800's as is my wife's, so we can't blame that. The way I see it greed and the sins of others drove those rates up. Regarding L.I. and attorney's you got that right, everything else I pretty much covered.

I've seen so much of this. For whatever reason, mine went down. First time in many years. I'm sure they'll more than correct that next time.