I've heard people talking about how the batteries in a hybrid car are dangerous in a crash involving fire. I'm wondering if there's any legitimacy to this argument or if it's just an argument people who have a bias against hybrid cars for whatever reason are using... I feel like a lot of people are just looking for a way to defame them.
2007-04-04 16:16:42 · 7 answers · asked by Jeffrey 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Hybrids do not use lead/acid batteries. They do use a hi-voltage bank of batteries that under the right circumstances WILL DEFINITELY KILL YOU. If the wiring gets damaged in a car crash, or by someone inadvertently pinching (like raising the car with a jack in the wrong spot) it causing a short, this can be the source of you being electrocuted! If the batteries catch fire for whatever reason the fumes will also KILL YOU! If in doubt get a copy of either the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid owners manuals and read all the "warnings".
2007-04-04 17:39:30 · answer #1 · answered by know da stuff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hybrids use metal hydride batteries instead of lead acid and they operate on much higher voltages. if the batteries ever catch fire they can only be put out using special extingushers that most depts do not carry. water is a no no and may cause explosions. there is also issues with lethal gasses from the fire. there are safety switches that are supposed to shut the power off in an accident but they have been known to fail. if they do you can have several hundred volts at high amperages running lose in the wreck. not a good thing. in a few years everyone will know how to handle these things but right now hybrids do present very real risks.
2007-04-05 00:42:18 · answer #2 · answered by glen t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About a year ago I was taking to an auto mechanic and he told me someone had been working on one, and he actually was electrocuted by the car, killing him. So they are dangerous even when not in an accident. Any time you have voltage of 60 volts or higher, ac or dc it can be dangerous. Thats only 5 batteries connected to each other. I'm not sure how many for sure they have but if it's 5 or more, they are dangerous.
I'd say they can be a real issue in a car crash too.
2007-04-04 17:24:20 · answer #3 · answered by dannyo66 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they'll get recycled, similar as automobile batteries are on the instant. and they could no longer have lead nor acid. Lead-acid is an fairly poor technologies of battery, for 3 motives: a million. it really is unbelievably poisonous, both the lead and the acid. 2. it really is heavy (lead, hi!) for the quantity of capacity it shops. 3. they don't very last very lengthy! merely 3-6 years. vehicles on the instant use lead-acid batteries because they're inexpensive.
2016-12-03 07:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a hybrids use more than one lead acid battery,and a crash occurs there will be more of a chance of spark occurring from the extra batteries and battery cables.Lead acid automotive batteries discharge hydrogen gas,then it could in theory result in the following equation: hydrogen gas+sparks= Hindenburg..........(explosion).
2007-04-04 16:38:26 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. The hybrids are new so there will be the skeptics beating up on anything they can find.
2007-04-04 19:08:39 · answer #6 · answered by Wabbit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask them what data do they have to support their arguement? I would like to know. I can't remember hearing anything about fires in hybrids.
My guess is they don't have any either. But it is a good story.
2007-04-04 16:21:36 · answer #7 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋