FROM ARTICLE::
“Alternatively, British Columbia-based, Corvus Energy, which supplied the ferry’s battery system, has issued recommendations to operators not to sail without communication between the shipboard energy management system and the battery packs, as well as what to do in case of a gas release or “thermal runaway situation.
Thermal runaway occurs when lithium-ion cell temperatures exceed the thermal runaway threshold, resulting in the sudden release of flammable, toxic gases and excessive heat that could result in an explosion.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority says the exact sequence of events in the Ytterøyningen fire has not been established, but it will issue a Safety Message update when additional facts, information and causal connections are made.
All of this has major implications for Norwegian ferry operators who are increasingly turning to hybrid diesel-electric or fully-electric power for vessels operating in environmentally sensitive fjords and coastal areas.
The Ytterøyningen was delivered in 2006 and is equipped with a Corvus Orca Energy storage system (ESS) with 1989 kWh capacity. “
In the situation that I witnessed, the battery was so hot that it ignited the interior of the car and melted the glass. All from a little lithium ion cell phone battery.