由 lltx1822 Electric Vehicle Shipping Risks Exposed by the US Ship Fire”
The US ship fire has laid bare the numerous risks associated with shipping electric vehicles by sea. One of the most significant risks is the nature of lithium – ion batteries. These batteries, which are the most common type used in electric vehicles, have a high energy density. While this is great for powering the vehicle, it also means that when something goes wrong, they can release a large amount of energy in the form of heat and flames.
In the case of the US ship fire, it is believed that a malfunction in one of the lithium – ion batteries may have triggered the blaze. Once a battery enters a state of thermal runaway, it can quickly heat up to extremely high temperatures, often above 800°C. This intense heat can then cause adjacent batteries to also go into thermal runaway, creating a chain reaction that spreads the fire throughout the cargo hold.
Another risk is the lack of effective fire – fighting methods for lithium – ion battery fires. Traditional fire – extinguishing agents such as water and carbon dioxide are not very effective against these types of fires. Water can react with the chemicals in the battery, producing hydrogen gas which can further fuel the fire. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, cannot penetrate the battery casing to extinguish the internal fire. This means that ships transporting electric vehicles need to be equipped with specialized fire – fighting equipment, such as dry chemical extinguishers designed specifically for lithium – ion battery fires.
The long – distance and rough conditions of sea voyages also pose risks. Electric vehicles are exposed to constant vibrations, which can cause the batteries to become loose or damaged over time. Temperature fluctuations can also affect the performance and safety of the batteries. In cold weather, the battery’s capacity can decrease, while in hot weather, the risk of thermal runaway increases.