A double-decker electric bus caught fire at a depot in Westbourne Park, London, leaving two charging points charred. Fortunately, no one was injured and firefighters brought the blaze under control in less than an hour. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which once again puts the safety of electric vehicles in public transport under the spotlight.
The Technical Challenges of Charging Electric Fleets 🔥
The incident reinforces the need to review high-power charging systems. Lithium-ion batteries, when reaching high temperatures during fast charging, can trigger thermal runaway if the cooling system fails. Additionally, charging infrastructure must include temperature sensors and automatic circuit breakers to isolate faulty modules. Without these measures, the risk of fire spreading between vehicles and chargers remains high.
The Bus Decided to Warm Up the Depot Before Winter 😅
It seems the electric bus decided to get a head start on the depot's central heating. With two chargers as extra fuel, it managed to turn the garage into an improvised sauna in the heart of London. The good news is that no one was injured; the bad news is that neighbors now have an excuse to complain about the smoke. But hey, sustainable mobility has never been so... warm.