The battery of my 2001 honda insight caught fire and burned the passenger compartment to a crisp within 4 minutes. I was driving on the freeway here in Los angeles and was able to get out of the car (along with my cat who escaped her vet appointment!) It's been pretty traumatic. I've been a hybrid fanatic and bought mine the moment I could back in 2001 and have kept it meticulously.
Now I wonder about the safety of a giant battery pack basically in the passenger compartment with no fire wall between it and the occupants. Luckily, I got out okay but it has seriously dampened my enthusiasm. I took photos with my cell phone and you can see the pictures here: Car Go Boom.
I have reported the incident to Honda who have expressed very little interest, which has been another disappointment. As anyone who reads this has surely experienced, we honda insight drivers talked to hundreds of people about the car, touting its amazing gas mileage, urging people to invest in this new technology.
I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else, especially an owner of one of the second generation models who might have toddlers strapped in car seats over the battery in the back seat rather than a very calm kitten.
WOW, this is very disturbing. Since this is a NiMh battery, not a LiIo battery, one would not expect this, especially with fuses to shut down everything in case of a short circuit.
I would be very interested in knowing the results of an autopsy, if one is performed.
We need to know the failure mode!!!
__________________
Jim Isbell
2000, 5 speed, 250,000 miles
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."
thanks. Cars do catch fire. In Brazil, car drivers are required to carry fire extinguishers. On the other hand, cars are traditionally designed with a fire wall between the front engine compartment and the passenger compartment. If you look at my photos you can see that the fire wall was very effective at stopping the fire from traveling to the front end of the car. I can't help but think that there is a fundamental design flaw in the location of the battery vis a vis fire safety.
I'm not an expert or a mechanic or a car designer so my observations won't have the technical savvy of many of the posts I read here. I just wanted to share my experience and get some feedback.
Though it is of no comfort to you, your story and pictures have convinced me to carry a fire extinguisher AND to have most of the bolts, if not all on the battery cover removed. It might rattle a little but it would give fast access to the battery in case of a fire.
Maybe I will design a quick release for the cover. It sure doesnt need 20+ bolts in it. I presently dont put in the last row because they are too hard to get to, reaching over the rear bumper, when I am doing my tinkering.
__________________
Jim Isbell
2000, 5 speed, 250,000 miles
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."
The battery of my 2001 honda insight caught fire and burned the passenger compartment to a crisp within 4 minutes.
I'm glad you're okay and I'm sorry for your loss, but I don't think the pack actually burned.
IMG_0748.JPG shows the front of the pack looking through the front seat. The housing is melted, but it appears to have melted from the outside. It is more likely that either the IPU or DC-DC converter overheated and set the rear carpet on fire.
Also, possibly some debris was rattling around in the compartment and shorted out the battery leads. This would set the carpet on fire from the heat long before heating up a battery cell enough to burn. I have found mouse nests inside battery compartments on more than one occasion (on cars that are in use).
It's a minor point = yes the IMA system set the car on fire - but I don't think the battery itself burned.
WOW, this is very disturbing. Since this is a NiMh battery, not a LiIo battery, one would not expect this, especially with fuses to shut down everything in case of a short circuit.
That's an even better point. The main fuse would have blown before the cell caught fire on an external short, and I don't think it's possible to short it that badly internally (inside the battery module) except in a wreck. Since the car was running, the culprit was more likely the IPU feeding power in.
That's an even better point. The main fuse would have blown before the cell caught fire on an external short, and I don't think it's possible to short it that badly internally (inside the battery module) except in a wreck. Since the car was running, the culprit was more likely the IPU feeding power in.
The battery was under warranty. Is the IPU is part of that?
Though it is of no comfort to you, your story and pictures have convinced me to carry a fire extinguisher AND to have most of the bolts, if not all on the battery cover removed. It might rattle a little but it would give fast access to the battery in case of a fire.
Maybe I will design a quick release for the cover. It sure doesnt need 20+ bolts in it. I presently dont put in the last row because they are too hard to get to, reaching over the rear bumper, when I am doing my tinkering.
Good policy to carry an extinguisher in any Car.
Brake Fluid is more of a Fire Risk than Petrol!
I'm a Train driver and receive Fire Fighting Training for my duties and yes I've had to use it on a Diesel Loco!
Basically:
1) Don't risk your neck.
2 Turn off the Ignition
3) Don't let the Oxygen into the Compartment
4) If one extinguisher does not stop the fire, Get the Fire Brigade.
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battery caught fire
