Photo: Jalopnik
It seems that whenever some ‘green’ vehicle bursts into flames, people always assume that ‘it must be the battery pack’, and as it has been proven time and again, that really isn’t the case.
Now, regarding the recent New Jersey port incident, where 16 Fisker Karmas were severely damaged by fire, the automaker has concluded its investigation, and the conclusion is, of course, that the batteries were not to blame.
It was ruled that it was one of the cars’ low voltage VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) which shorted after sitting in salt water for several hours, thus causing the fire which ultimately spread to the other 15 Karmas parked nearby. Batteries were completely ruled out of the equation.
Toyota, which lost three Prius hybrids in a similar incident has yet to make an official statement, but we have a hunch that it will be more of the same, since the Prius has a much smaller battery pack, anyway.
It was ruled that it was one of the cars’ low voltage VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) which shorted after sitting in salt water for several hours, thus causing the fire which ultimately spread to the other 15 Karmas parked nearby. Batteries were completely ruled out of the equation.
Toyota, which lost three Prius hybrids in a similar incident has yet to make an official statement, but we have a hunch that it will be more of the same, since the Prius has a much smaller battery pack, anyway.
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