THE MORNING RANT: The Lithium Battery Fire Problem Isn’t Confined to EVs; Plug-In Hybrids & Battery Storage Are Also Going Up in Flames

If This is “Clean Energy,” What is Dirty Energy?

What had been one the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities, Moss Landing Energy Storage in Monterey County California, burst into flames in mid-January, and burned for several days. There was no way to contain it so the fire was left to burn itself out, but it continued to periodically re-ignite. Now, over three weeks later, there is still
fear of Moss Landing re-igniting.

Rainfall poses a significant threat to the Vistra battery plant in Moss Landing, where exposed lithium-ion batteries could react violently and spark a flare-up.

"Water reacts to lithium in a very violently responsive way," said Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church.

Initially as the fire raged, nearby residents were evacuated.

“Evacuations ordered in California after fire at battery power plant in Moss Landing” [USA Today – 01/17/2025]

Monterey County soon thereafter declared a state of emergency.

“'Terrifying': Monterey County declares emergency after massive lithium battery plant fire” [USA Today – 01/23/2025]

Initial tests are being done to examine the environmental damage, and it is very bad news.

“‘Extremely disturbing’: High levels of heavy metals at Monterey estuary after lithium battery site fire” [LA Times – 01/29/2025]

Days after one of the world’s largest lithium ion battery storage facilities burst into flames in Monterey County, researchers found alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals at a nearby estuary that is home to several endangered species.

The concentration of nickel, manganese and cobalt measured on the surface of the soil is hundreds to thousands of times as much as the levels in the surface soil prior to the fire or compared with levels measured deeper in the soil.

San José State’s soil samples suggest there could be long-term environmental and health effects from the toxic blaze…

By the way, Moss Landing is not an isolated event. Just a few days later there was a similar fire in Australia.

“Factory in Cheltenham in Melbourne's south-east erupts in flames after lithium-ion batteries catch fire, prompting smoke alert for surrounding areas” [Sky News Australia – 01/30/2025]

There is nothing funny about these awful lithium-ion fires, but I do chuckle when these stories unironically refer to battery storage fires in the context of “clean energy.”

Plug-In Hybrids: Another Fiery Solution to a Problem that Doesn’t Exist

Traditional hybrid vehicles (e.g. the Prius) that produce electricity with regenerative braking are an amazing technological development. The electricity is stored in a small battery that can then be used an energy source to reduce the amount of gasoline used for propulsion. This generally results in better miles per gallon than realized in a non-hybrid, gasoline-powered car. Toyota is now applying this technology to most of its fleet. In fact, Toyota was heavily criticized and mocked by the climate cultists for missing out on the “EV transition” as it focused instead on traditional, Prius-style hybrid vehicles.

It’s a confusing shame that the word “hybrid” is also used for the subset of EVs known as “plug-in hybrids.” A plug-in hybrid has two complete powertrain systems – one gasoline and one electric, so it is terribly inefficient, with limited range, unnecessarily heavy, and it has twice as many ways to mechanically fail. Plug-in hybrids also still require a large, unstable, lithium-ion battery, just like pure EVs, and they have the similar problem of spontaneously combusting.

A long-time member of the Ace of Spades horde from a left coast state sent me an email with the attached photo of a friend’s plug-in Jeep Cherokee.

He wrote:

Hey Buck - Big fan of your columns on EVs, and they were the first thing I thought of when my friend’s car caught fire last night - it was a 2024 Jeep grand Cherokee plug in hybrid. Super nice car. All the features. Heated and cooled seats. Suspension that could be raised and lowered as needed. 40 mile electric range. Good gas mileage. Then it spontaneously caught fire after a 10 mile drive.

Meanwhile in Massachusetts…

“Hybrid vehicle catches fire inside Wayland garage. Why it could have been worse” [Metro West Daily News – 01/14/2025]

{Fire Chief] McPherson said a resident of the home was inside the garage at the time a Jeep Cherokee 4XE began to smoke heavily, before erupting into flames.

To be clear, this Jeep Cherokee 4XE is was a plug-in hybrid, not a traditional hybrid.

Firefighters used one of their engines to drag the burning SUV out of the garage, and prevent it from creating any significant structural damage.

All these recent Jeep plug-in fires would seem to explain this headline that I somehow missed a few months ago:

“Park outside: 150,000 Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler hybrids recalled for fire risk” [USA Today – 10/01/2024]

Certain Jeep hybrid plug-in models are being recalled due to several reports of fires starting when the cars are driving or parked, according to car companies Stellantis and Chrysler.

For those who purchase EVs (including plug-in hybrids) from a legacy auto manufacturer, it is becoming disturbingly common to receive a notice at some point advising that your vehicle is so dangerous that it must be parked outside and away from structures…

As a result, park-outside notices have been issued to certain Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler hybrid owners to prevent the spread of potential flames. Owners have also been advised to avoid charging their batteries for the time being.

If it’s advisable not to plug in your plug-in hybrid, perhaps it would make more sense to simply buy a gasoline-only vehicle.

The exploding plug-in hybrid problem isn’t just a Jeep problem either.

“Latest Ford Recall Entails Fire Risk in Plug-In Hybrid SUVs; A manufacturing error has presented the risk of a short circuit and fire in certain Ford hybrid SUV” [Ratchet & Wrench – 01/02/2025]

According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an error in manufacturing has resulted in potential microdefects and local stresses within the battery, causing the cell separator layer to get damaged. This chain of events will likely lead to a short circuit, and potentially a fire.

Audi too…

“Audi has recalled 4,616 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) because their high-voltage batteries may overheat and trigger a fire” [KBB – 12/10/2024]

While traditional Prius-type hybrids are a great advancement in gasoline-powered automotive technologies, plug-in EV hybrids are little more than clunky, complicated novelties for which there are much better ICE or pure EV options. It’s akin to buying an amphibious vehicle because you might occasionally want a boat.

Splash-In Hybrids

Speaking of amphibious vehicles, here’s a fun little video of the early 1960s Amphicar. Why buy a boat if you can purchase a “splash-in hybrid” instead?

President Lyndon Johnson famously had an Amphicar at his Texas ranch, and it’s alleged that he liked to take guests on a spin around the ranch, then give them a scare by claiming his brakes had failed as he drove into a lake.

Have a great week.

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

posted by Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

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