Saturday, May 31, 2025

I was thinking today how LIthium Ion Batteries like Teslas and Rivians and other EVs might explode during an EMP

 LIthium Ion Batteries have always been unstable. In fact, I learned just yesterday that when you are flying in a jet passenger plane they want you to put anything with a Lithium Ion Battery in visible sight in case it catches fire or smokes. (the other day they had to turn around a flight because a lithium Ion battery was smoking on a plane for example. So, next time I will not only keep our smartphones in sight but also the Anker rechargeble batteries I use for quickly recharging my phone anywhere too in sight while flying.

Here is more about what happened during the Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles below. I realized that an EMP could set off thousands of Lithium Ion Batteries in Cars and smartphones wherever the EMP happened on earth too especially around major cities and military bases.

Begin quotes from Google AI and Internet:

 Burning Teslas in LA Add to Toxic Mix Hindering Wildfire ...
During the recent Pacific Palisades fire, lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and home energy systems posed a significant hazard during the cleanup, as they could ignite or explode even after the fire was extinguished. The EPA is overseeing a massive cleanup effort, which includes collecting and neutralizing these dangerous batteries. 
Details:
  • Hazardous Nature:
    Damaged or overheated lithium-ion batteries can spontaneously combust and cause explosions, posing a risk to workers and residents. 

  • California fire cleanup: Lithium-ion batteries are a dangerous ...
    Jan 27, 2025 — If damaged or overheated, lithium-ion batteries can ignite or even explode — residual heat sets off a chain reaction t...
    NBC News

  • Cleanup Efforts:
    The EPA is leading the cleanup, collecting and safely disposing of the batteries from burned properties. 
  • Collection Process:
    Teams are identifying and removing batteries, often using specialized machinery and protective equipment. 
  • Safety Measures:
    The batteries are transported to designated sites where they are neutralized, often through processes like brining and crushing. 
  • Public Safety:
    The EPA emphasizes public safety, with hazmat teams inspecting homes and warning residents about the potential risks. 
  • The LA fires burned a lot of lithium-ion batteries. What ... - LAist
    Feb 7, 2025 — Lithium–ion batteries have been making headlines since the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires broke out a month ago.
    LAist
  • How L.A. removed 1 million pounds of flammable lithium-ion ...
    Apr 9, 2025 — The fires that swept through Los Angeles County in January left behind more than 1 million pounds of damaged lithium-io...
    Los Angeles Times
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