The results presented in this report show that the transport of electrically powered vehicles (BEV and HEV) results in an increased risk of fire, in particular if the vehicles are connected to the ship’s power distribution system for charging. It is expected that the majority of fires will be limited to the power cable and that there will not be any dangerous consequences for the passengers, the crew or the ship. In order to minimize the risk of cable fires, the experts involved in the study recommend that only tested cables provided on board the ship be used and that the laying and connecting of the cables be performed only by trained crew members.

In the event of a lithium ion battery catching fire, it is important to note that such a fire reaches very high temperatures, produces toxic gases and is inextinguishable. Before a battery catches fire, it will, in most cases, emit gases that can be detected with the help of special sensors. However, such sensors are currently not used on ships. To effectively prevent the battery fire from spreading, it is necessary to cool the area surrounding the fire effectively. This requires large quantities of water. Moreover, it could make sense to use high pressure water mist systems and add additives to the extinguishing water.

The fire issue, of course, is exacerbated by the fact large quantities of water can sink the ship, which is hardly a better outcome. It’s a bit like choosing between fire and ice, but that wasn’t the only premonition of the danger, as this more recent insurance industry post illustrates:

Lithium-ion cells and batteries play a dominant role in portable applications and have now entered the field of automotive applications. If a lithium-ion battery catches fire, it can result in temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C. In recent trials, large amounts of water was found to be an effective fire-fighting agent, primarily as the cooling effect prevented vehicle components from catching fire. As with most fires, battery fires also produce highly toxic gases.

The following are all potential risk scenarios that could arise when transporting EVs:

• Battery fire during on-board charging of the EV
• Battery fire due to increase in temperature from a fire in the surrounding area
• Battery fire after an accidental impact during cargo operation or vessel movement in bad weather
• Fire or explosion due to the escape of hydrogen from the fuel cell hydrogen pressure tank resulting from fire in the lower deck or surrounding area
• Battery runaway due to an internal short circuit resulting from an impact, or poor battery quality leading to fire when the battery internal safety mechanisms stop working

In addition, a lithium-ion battery exposed to temperatures above 150 °C from a surrounding fire might start to discharge toxic gases with possible ignition. In case of a fire in the vicinity of a FCEV it is possible for the pressure to increase in the hydrogen tank from an external temperature increase. A significant amount of hydrogen could then escape forming flammable mixtures which could be ignited by non-explosion-proof equipment, such as lamps and fans.

What this all demonstrates, of course, is that the headlong charge into green energy scams is fraught with risk. There is always risk, of course, but it is exaggerated in this case due to the insistence of the government scammers that their scheme be adopted right now, by everyone, without delay. And, the obedient corporatist scammers that be (Volkswagen, et al) wanted to be on the gravy train, of course, except that, this time, its turned out to be a gravy boat and gravy was disgustingly lumpy.