In a rather tragic incident, multiple Ather electric scooters were engulfed in fire while being transported in a truck. Government agencies scrutinized numerous electric scooter manufacturers last year due to incidents of their products catching fire during the summer season. Criticism was directed towards the inferior build quality of these vehicles. However, Ather, a prominent EV manufacturer, attributed the issue to substandard batteries used by some competitors. Ironically, despite Ather’s reputation, a recent incident involving Ather scooters catching fire has reignited concerns about fire incidents in electric vehicles.
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Multiple Ather Electric Scooters Catch Fire
This post comes from Ather Energy Parody on X. It captures the entire incident vividly. A truck carrying Ather electric scooters likely to the dealership is seen parked on the road. The reason is apparent. At least 4 electric scooters are seen ablaze. It is possible that there might have been an issue with a single EV. But because the others were in the vicinity, they were engulfed in this fire. There are also at least 4 other electric scooters in the bottom compartment. Thankfully, they are safe from the flames. People standing nearby are making videos of the entire saga. The exact reason for the fire is unknown.
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Challenges with EV Fires
Note that EV fires are different from fires in other ICE automobiles. In EVs, once the battery ignites, it becomes challenging to douse the fire. This is due to something called Thermal Runaway. Essentially, battery components like Lithium, Cobalt, Manganese, Nickel, etc are toxic and explosive. Hence, once a fire starts, these components act as the raw materials and fuel for the fire to continue. The chemical reactions keep occurring even if you keep sprinkling water or put sand. Hence, a dedication mechanism must be put in place to deal with EV fires.
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Author’s Note
These fire incidents not only deter potential EV buyers but also pose a significant danger to early adopters. Tragically, there have been numerous instances of individuals losing their lives as a result of fires in their electric scooters. This appears to be a widespread issue across the industry, primarily stemming from temperature-sensitive lithium-ion batteries exploding, often during charging. Despite the advent of the EV era, such incidents hinder the mass adoption of electric cars and motorcycles. In addition to existing challenges like range anxiety, inadequate charging infrastructure, and high prices, safety concerns arising from frequent fire incidents undoubtedly sow seeds of doubt in the minds of prospective EV buyers.
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Ather Electric scooters caught fire during . It's concerning that Ather Electric faces issues almost every day #ather #atherelectric @atherenergy pic.twitter.com/fZnHmvxfNA
— Ather Energy Parody (@atherenergy_) March 1, 2024
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