Electric vehicle battery explodes, destroying five cars

Five cars were destroyed at Sydney Airport on Monday 11 September, following the explosion of a Lithium-ion battery in a luxury electric car.

Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) were called to the parking lot on Airport Drive, Mascot, at around 8:30 p.m., where flames had engulfed a luxury electric vehicle before spreading to another four motor vehicles.

It was determined that the battery, which had recently been detached from the car and stored in the lot, was responsible for the fire.

A fire started by an EV battery has destroyed five cars. Video: Fire and Rescue NSW

FRNSW’s Fire Investigation and Research Unit attended the scene and is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Research officers from FRNSW’s Safety of Alternative and Renewable Energy Technologies (SARET) team have also inspected the aftermath.

FRNSW said these insights will assist them in continually developing best practices for emergency response to lithium-related fires and informing the industry on how to manage the risks associated with emerging technologies.

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