Cars Including an EV Catch Fire After Being Submerged in Flood Water, Chiang Mai

[Georgealbert]

 

 

A fire broke out on the evening of 6 October, involving an electric vehicle (EV) submerged in floodwaters at a home in Chiang Mai. The flames also involved  a nearby pickup truck, causing significant damage. Rescue officials reported that two other vehicles were also affected by the heat of the fire, sustaining partial damage.

 

The Chiang Mai Charity Rescue Association and fire crews responded to the emergency after being alerted to the situation. Upon arrival, they discovered the source of the fire was the submerged vehicles including an electric vehicle. Initially using water from buckets in the flood water, they managed to control the fire, before a single hose-line was able to reach the fire after being dragged through the flooding. Despite the difficulty of working in waterlogged conditions with flood levels reaching around 30 centimetres the fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes.

 

 

A total of four vehicles were impacted: two were completely destroyed by the fire, the EV and the pickup truck, while two additional vehicles suffered partial heat damage. The fire occurred in a residential parking area that had been inundated by floodwaters.

 

The homeowners had already evacuated due to the severe flooding, and authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the fire, the first vehicle burning was believed to be the EV, but there was no evidence of thermal runaway from the Li-ion battery.

 

Further inspections by police and forensic teams are expected to take place once water levels drop, allowing full access to the vehicles.

Pictures from responders.

 

 

-- 2024-10-08

 

 

[G_Money]

Well, at least the portable generators were saved.

 

 I wonder if the vehicle belongs to any of the EV fanboys on this forum,

[MikeandDow]

Do these Emergency guys get any training  Throwing water on an Electrical fire !!!  Thai logic !!! 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Do these Emergency guys get any training  Throwing water on an Electrical fire !!!  Thai logic !!! 

Talking of Thai logic...

[josephbloggs]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Talking of Thai logic...

 

Nice prejudice / Thai bash (unusual for you hey?).

That is clearly not Thailand or a Thai person. 

[KhunLA]

"but there was no evidence of thermal runaway from the Li-ion battery."

 

Contradicts the whole theory that the EV was the cause of the fire.   Not stating it was or wasn't ...

 

BUT ... if our car got submerged, then it's a good chance it might turn up stolen or totaled by fire.   Much better insurance pay out ... no questions asked 🙄

[Purdey]

Saw an article recently that diesel cars are rising in favor over EVs. Not the environmental answer really.

[portisaacozzy]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

yes ,its not Thailand and its not a Thi person. Its an Irish man from Dublin who has a job of keeping the water levels even and he is my son.
Nice prejudice / Thai bash (unusual for you hey?).

That is clearly not Thailand or a Thai person. 

 

[MalcolmB]

5 hours ago, G_Money said:

 

 I wonder if the vehicle belongs to any of the EV fanboys on this forum,

I traded mine in for a gas bus.

I got a good deal.

[johng]

3 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Not the environmental answer really

Why not,  they use tried and tested technology  extremely reliable

all infrastructure already in place up and running  huge reserves of the energy (oil) readily available 100%  of the time   no need to depend on "overseas" manufactures  of solar panels and batteries

and intermittent charging source...

 

Use what you have  until something completely compelling comes along to replace it... I do support hydro,solar and much lesser

(last resort) nuclear energy  but they are not yet the most cost effective and reliable (safe)options  for every situation, solar in Thailand is a good option  because there is a huge abundance of solar energy almost everyday ( but not at night)....again  use what you have if it works very well then use it first and foremost. 

[mithunonthenet]

Another reason I won't park my car near an EV... that too in a covered parking space.

[bunnydrops]

Another one

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/01/tesla-ev-fire-flooding/75468212007/

[thesetat2013]

I can not understand why foreigners in Thailand even purchase EVs. The potential for catastrophic fires and damage are huge. Yet, in their forums they argue there is no danger. Thailand is a country that has floods yearly. Monsoon season brings the floods always. And an EV that gets wet is an explosive danger. If the batteries get wet they will catch fire and that fire will completely destroy anything and can no be put out. In the US, they are warning their people who are possibly getting floods to move their vehicles far away from everything or up high enough not to get under water. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/florida-officials-warn-of-electric-vehicle-fires-sparked-by-hurricane-milton-5738579?utm_source=rtnewsnoe&src_src=rtnewsnoe&utm_campaign=rtbreaking-2024-10-10-1&src_cmp=rtbreaking-2024-10-10-1&utm_medium=email&utm_content=access0&est=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAdeouZhYYyNXo674Pt2kXCLt3i6tzna2xhBxDd%2BTh%2Bp65wQ%3D%3D

 

In a country such as Thailand. The only place to avoid flooding is by leaving to another province or city. So it is not feasible to do this every time a storm comes. I suspect the more Evs sold here that there will be a huge increase in these explosive uncontrollable fires. Ev owners need to heed the warnings about this. But as everyone knows. Thais do their own thing regardless of any warning.