Car explodes in Solar Car challenge.

[sico]

Filipino teams batteries explode:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-18/solar-car-explodes/3577708

Care to guess what chemistry or supplier

Simon

 

[adrian_sm]

Sounds like the car is fine, but batteries toast.

http://www.solarwebsite.nl/2011/10/more-news-on-philippines-solar-car-fire/
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/235779/technology/pinoy-solar-car-catches-fire-in-australia

 

[sico]

Here is a more measured article with a pic:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/235779/technology/pinoy-solar-car-catches-fire-in-australia

 

[Kirk]

The car they were planning on passing the next day was the MIT entry. A lot of guys working at the NSA graduated from MIT. Coincidence

 

[bearing]

Pretty understandable, given that you can assume they have been pushing the batteries to all voltage limits to gain maximum energy density and probably have been using them above their ambient temperature spec as well.

 

[dogman dan]

Apparently panasonic lithium ion batteries were used. I can't keep up with all the what chemistry is in which cells.

Goes without saying they were topping em up good, it's RACING 8) .

But it could easily enough be the old standard, some wire rubs and shorts deal. No telling from the article. A good spark is an explosion to most.

 

[bigmoose]

From one of the links above:

There were no injuries, according to Geronimo, because Sikat II had already been parked and was recharging at the time. The team, including the driver, were a safe distance away.

 

[Hillhater]

It would be nice to have a little less sensationalism on these reports !
The ABC report stated that the battery "exploded" and "the car was destroyed".
However, the second link sico posted elaborates and suggests that there was "damage to the battery" but the car was undamaged and cleared to continue in the race ! :?

 

[dogman dan]

In other words, they smoked the charge controller, yawn.

 

[sico]

Here's an update, they stick by the claim that the car was destroyed. Its not like ABC to actually make up facts, though that first headline was pretty sensational:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-19/solar-car-challenge/3578244

Sorry you don't find it interesting dogman

It is, at its heart, an ev endurance race, and a bloody long one at that.

 

[Hillhater]

It seems the "distroyed car is still in the race ..?
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/235859/technology/phl-solar-car-back-in-the-race-unfazed-by-fire.
just shows how much the ABC research their information.

 

[sico]

Yeah, not very impressive, I want my 20c back!

Here's some more pics:

Simon.