problems with the chevy volt. please spread the word.

[860]

1)  Lithium batteries do not contain very much lithium. 

2)  Lithium in batteries is not in an pure, unbonded form.  It is always in a bonded compound.  Pure elemental sodium will react even more violently with water, but we put sodium salt on our food all the time, and nobody is afraid of moisture in their salt shakers causing explosions.



Keep in mind that people take (eat) lithium pills.  It is only reactive with water like that in its elemental form.

Other common items that are massively dangerous in their pure elemental form, yet we consume every day: 

a)  Florine (floride toothpaste)
b)  Hydrogen -- think Hindenburg explosion (water)
c)  Oxygen -- in the form of O3 is ozone, which destroys lung tissue (water)   


Any method of storing energy is potentially dangerous when that energy is released in an uncontrolled way.  That's just basic physics.  But being afraid of lithium batteries due to elemental lithium's reactivity with water, is like being afraid of your salt shaker due to elemental sodium's reactivity with water.

Or like being afraid of Gummy Bears:

[Richard230]

Gummy bears will rot your teeth.   

[860]

...especially if you eat them with Potassium Chlorate infused alcoholic beverages.   

 

[Shinysideup]

In my dim memory banks I remember being told of the danger of grinding VW bug valves which were at one point filled with sodium.

On the other hand, the gummy bear reaction looks like it would be extremely effective at clearing clogged sinuses.

[Richard230]

An article in the business section of my newspaper today, written by the AP, titled "Coolant leak likely cause of Volt fires", reports that: "The liquid solution that cools the Chevrolet Volt's batteries is the likely cause of fires that broke out inside the electric car after government crash tests, a person briefed on the matter said."

The article goes on to say:  "The coolant did not catch fire, but crystallized and created an electrical short that apparently sparked the fires, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the findings are not final."

I guess the coolant for the batteries is not water. I wonder what it is?   

[860]

In my dim memory banks I remember being told of the danger of grinding VW bug valves which were at one point filled with sodium.

On the other hand, the gummy bear reaction looks like it would be extremely effective at clearing clogged sinuses.

Yea, I'm not familiar with sodium filled valves, but I know VW used magnesium blocks.  So when you do a valve job, and you get to the point of re-decking the block to the head you have to machine the block to match the head.  Too much heat during machining, and the magnesium block can light on fire.  Magnesium engine blocks burn at about 5000-6000 degrees, and when you hit them with water, the water breaks into hydrogen and oxygen and the hydrogen and oxygen explode into flames.   Magnesium is in the same family of elemental metals as lithium and sodium.  Many elements ending with "ium" are in the family of metallic elements, and can make for some pretty cool shows, like this VW block being burned, and the flames buring higher when water is thrown on it:

[Richard230]

Here is a link to an interesting description of the Volt's battery cooling system:

http://ae-plus.com/technology/dana-helps-the-chevrolet-volt-stay-cool

[Shinysideup]

Magnesium is in the same family of elemental metals as lithium and sodium.  Many elements ending with "ium" are in the family of metallic elements, and can make for some pretty cool shows, like this VW block being burned, and the flames buring higher when water is thrown on it:

Yes. Think "Highway Flares" (Magnesium)

[firebourn]

Just when I thought American car companies where on the right track this happened with the volt. I know the leaf and other vehicles that use batteries had to go through crash testing. Why is there no article about them catching fire?

[Gavin]

Seems the Chevy used liquid cooling while the Leaf and Mitsubishi i went air cooling.

Air cooling is simpler and cheaper, but some think liquid is better as it will kept the battery at a more constant temp...

Seems, at least for now, that Chevy outsmarted themselves...went expensive and complex hoping to get long battery life and happy customers...

In the long run, once they change the coolant, they may be right...but right now I think Nissan and Mits are probably happy they went cheap

Gavin