Ever since EVs started getting more popular, safety regulations have been constantly evolving in order to accommodate EV standards. The safety of EVs is an ongoing concern for automakers and regulators alike. Although the vast majority of EVs are at low risk for battery fires, these incidents can be serious when they do occur. As per recent news, Ford has issued a recall notice for 18 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks due to defective battery cells.
The issue caused at least one truck to catch fire. Production of the electric truck was paused for four weeks while Ford investigated the cause of the defect. The automobile manufacturer will restart production on Monday, March 13th, with a “clean stock” of battery packs. The affected vehicles are either on dealer lots or in customer’s hands. Ford has been in close contact with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is expected to publish the recall notice next week.
The “root cause” of the issue was at South Korean battery supplier SK On’s factory in Georgia, according to Ford. In a statement, spokesperson Emma Bergg said that the company was not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this recall. Ford has confirmed the root cause with SK On and implemented quality actions to prevent future issues.
Battery fires, while rare, remain a serious concern for EV makers. More data is needed, but researchers have determined that the vast majority of EVs are at low risk for battery fires. However, when fires do occur, EVs with lithium-ion batteries burn hotter, faster, and require more water to extinguish. This fact has led some towns to retrain their emergency responders for when such incidents occur.
The most serious incident involving battery fires in EVs was with the Chevy Bolt. The vehicle was recalled after GM reported at least 19 battery fires due to defective cells from the supplier LG. The automaker was forced to temporarily shut down production after a software fix failed to prevent several more fires. Chevy resumed production last year after installing new battery packs.
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