Featured Vancouver EV owner shares cautionary tale after car deemed ‘total loss’ (Another case in Post #50)

and yet - as EV's (often do) begin to stink / smolder / heat up & thermaly run away, driver at least gets a little bit of notice of what's happening, unlike when a large amount of gas vapor instantly explodes - heating you up faster than any microwave could ever do. Ergo, far more gas fire deaths per million miles then EV's.
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So if one electric car drives a million miles, and never burns, while another gas car burns at exactly a million miles, what does that mean? Nothing. How about fires per units produced instead ?
Gas cars are out there by the millions driving around that are poorly maintained heaps. What about that? Does that prove anything if a heap burns up? I would guess no. But I don’t mind being wrong like has gone out of fashion. Being wrong is learning. I ask not to be right, just learn.

 

That doesn't produce Apples to Apples comparisons. Any other method skews statistics to improperly portray a result.

Gas Vs Electric Accident and Fire Safety | NextBigFuture.com

Statistics for gasser fires might not look so glaring as the amount of electric cars continue to increase - both in quantity as well as years on the road - to average the 12 years or so of gasser lifetime expectancy.
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Gasoline is still gasoline and fires are still fires, but what made the Pinto newsworthy was how small an accident was needed to set it off. For good reason, they don't make 'em like that anymore.

 

Not sure miles driven is even valid. I tend to think no it isn’t. I know a trillion dollar stock value wants it to be valid. GM seemed to be more forthright about fires with the Bolt than others.

 

I think they tested others and they were just as prone. The earlier vw bug had to be far worse. I knew a couple of students who jumped out for their lives back in the era. Bugs are like very expensive now. The vans had the front protection of a tin can, and they are worth bucks.
The Pinto was apparently a pretty good car in the day, cheap, and popular, so there were a lot of them.

 

The Ford Pinto - The American Museum of Tort Law

 

So to sum up, corporate in so many words says, "oops sorry we didn't treat you nicer after you spent $55,000 ...... and since we suggested you take it up w/ your insurance company which is now jamming your rates through the roof - let us make up for bending you over. How about a discount on a new Hyundai.
LOL
Too bad the guy didn't apparently know much about cars as some might grab a depth gauge or Vernier calipers & measure the distance on a brand new traction pack & find out just exactly what their specs are - & how far away the battery is supposed to be from that cover.
In the USA - a cover that supposed to protect a battery is supposed to be (legal jargon) "fit for the particular purpose" .... as well as forseeable 'misuse' like something in the road you might accidentally run over. This guy's case stinks to high heaven.
Thanks Hyundai ..... sure I'll just buy another car with a crappy battery protector.
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guy probably drove over a parking curb

 

In the new January 2024 issue of Consumer Reports, page 55, they no longer recommend the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

 

Thank you for the video:

• New technology BUY used - not just to avoid the depreciation but more to let the technology prove itself. So my first Prius was a used 2003 with ~49,000 mi when I drove off the deal lot. My first fill-up, 39 MPG, I briefly thought about returned the car. But instead, I mapped the "knee in the curve" and found 65 mph returned 52 MPG all the live long day.
• Warranty and Insurance companies are 'evil' - twice, I've had automotive insurance companies 'rob me' of perfectly repairable cars. The first was a 1991 Camry involved in a fender bender they called "totaled" and only gave me the cost of repair! The second, my 2017 BMW i3-REx door repair, someone backed into the open door, that cost me ~$1,000 for a $1,300 repair! As soon as possible, I buy my cars and revert to 'liability only' but this one was bought with a car loan and the accident happened before I had the cash to buy it!
• Car part prices - although many EV makers are willing to take a loss on a 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to make a sale (called a 'loss leader',) their generosity ends at the parts department.

I call this situation, "Tuition at the School of Hard Knocks!"

Mr Google reports the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 having either 58 kWh or "Long Range ... initially had 72.6 kWh gross battery pack." Battery replacement, $60,000. My 2019 Tesla Model 3 Std Rng Plus is listed as 50 kWh. Six months ago when I bought replacement underbody covers, the Tesla Service department told me it would be $15,000 to replace the battery. That was one reason I spent $15,000 buying a 2017 BMW i3-REx with 57,000 miles which is my urban driver.

So I am a retired engineer who has plenty of tools, access to a bay with lifts, and attitude. I have history keeping crappy ICE vehicles running until their wheels fall off (GAWD, I hated working on ICE cars!) So I am set but I am unique from this young man. He has my sympathy but Insurance Companies are ... profit making entities.

It may be cheaper to find out when that car goes on salvage and try to buy it back. Can't do anything about the insurance company rates (SOBs) but at least get what is likely a perfectly usable ride.

Bob Wilson

 

Those Pintos skewed the gas fires per mile results. The more I think about miles per fire, it is just a way to make ev come out better. Having your house burn down at night, or being burned to a crisp because you can’t find the door handle is not about miles driven.
The Pinto hatchback, as many were, was a cheap practical car. People kept buying them. Ford did put a piece of plastic over the gas tank I think. Then they got the big bumpers some time in there. I didn’t want to defend them, just sounds that way. We had a Gremlin back then, tank right at the back.

 

Doing a search at car-part.com, if it's the same battery, they're for sale at $12,000. Buy a used one and put the car back on the road.

 

At 21k, I’m not concerned about the future of my new bolt

 

so much for motor trend

hyundai-ioniq-5-2023-suv-of-the-year

 

It might be readily apparent that Motor Trend considers image to be more important than long term viability.

 

They showed their ignorance as well as outright laziness by not considering the battery shield.
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Haven't you seen lots of ICE cars burned up by the side of the road? I certainly see them.