Has anyone's Lithium Ion Prius caught fire?

None that I could find on the NHTSA database site

 

there was one posted yesterday, i think it was a 2016, not sure. there haven't been any pip fires that i know of.

 

That 2016 Trim 4 was not due to the Li-Ion battery. It was related to the engine block heater.
Prius Caught on Fire | PriusChat

 

that remains to be seen, but if the battery is intact, yes.

 

The damage looks to be contained to under the former hood & reformed front end.

 

In my case, linked above, the lithium battery is presumably unaffected. I made absolutely sure the first responders knew that it had a lithium ion battery, but since they saw no hot spots on their thermal imaging camera (TIC) they weren't concerned about it.

During the preliminary investigation they didn't want to disturb the car to the extent that it would be necessary to inspect the traction battery, but that may change during the more formal phase of the investigation. The 12V battery is melted away quite a bit, though.

 

One reason TOYOTA Ni-MH Batteries have had such longevity is because they aren't stressed - they are managed to only operate well less than full charge, and won't go into low discharge. Being HYBRID allows them to effectively operate within this restricted charge/discharge regime. TOYOTA has done much the same thing with Li-ION batteries too.

Something I read about the infamous SAMSUNG phones was that they used a much larger operating charge/discharge scope - presumably to get longer battery life. There were other factors too.

 

i'm not sure if there has ever been a prius battery fire period. a lot of them seem to be coming from headlight wiring.

 

Please don't tell me the lithium-ion battery in the Prius, is going to turn out like the Samsung cell phones!

(I knew I should've bought that nice big Chevy Silverado pick up! )

 

...a PiP fire was reported here last week or so, the first one we heard.
The guy did not say much but posted a pic. Some thought it was a troll.
A few PiPs on Toyota's NJ dock caught fire in Hurricane Sandy in 2012 due to salt water flooding.
At the same dock a whole bunch of Fisker Karmas burned up.

 

No, I wouldn't worry at all - as I said above #8, it was partly to do with SAMSUNG's design, but more to do with the stress they placed on the charge/discharge cycle, unlike PRIUS which is very gentle in comparison.

 

Thanks, Alan. But just in case, I'm going to keep a pack of shrimp in the refrigerator. I will be ready to throw some shrimp on the barbi, mate!

 

a pip? did i miss this? (or am i having another senior moment.)

 

My sister is driving her old (2002?) Avalon in -13 degree weather in Montana. She's never used an engine heater blanket, or a block heater. I still say the older Toyotas were the best made.

 

Does this reply look familiar to you, Bisc? I rest my case...but I understand how it could happen

This thread-
Prius's spontaneously catching on fire?

 

i was afraid of that.

found it, december 24th, post #135, pic of the burned car, but no update on the 'investigation'.

ever wonder why so many fires have one post, and no proof?

 

I have only heard of one occasion where the LiOn batts in the PIP were the cause of an actual fire. It occurred to several brand new ones parked at the port of entry that were swamped by seawater during Super Storm Sandy.

So, just don't Cruise too close to the Coast and you should be fine. (see what I did there?)

 

...and don't use "" too often...just a thought

 

Cars catch fire on occasion. Luckily not very often. Which makes me wonder why anyone would actually paint flames on one.
Anyway, Prius or any other model don't have a lock on the fire thing.

Kind of makes a detached garage look like a "good idea" (tm).