EQE Catches on fire
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Cincinnati
2010 E350 4Matic
Unrelated but related - I am schlepping my BIL's R1T to and from the boat launch and vacation home, sipping a bit of charge whenever it can.... A slave to the cord. Stupid.
He drove 4-ish hours towing a 10k lb boat and had to stop twice for charge. Both times the chargers weren't working at 100% power delivery. Because he was low on "gas", he had to unhitch his boat and leave it on the side of the road (parking lot) with his (attractive) wife sitting in it while he limped to a charger 5 miles further down the road. He unhitched because he thought (feared) he wouldn't make it to the charger hauling the boat.
This happened yesterday. It's as real as it gets. I'm not an EV person, however I keep my mind open. BIL's EV truck is beautiful and fun. But useless in the real world.
Fires, shrinking gas tank (battery range reduction in cold weather), poor charging infrastructure, inadequate battery range, heavy vehicle weight and poorer handling, unknown battery long term life and replacement cost. It's not for me.
Golf carts and grocery getters close to home - EVs are perfect for this. For real life, burning liquid hydrocarbons is the way to go.
He drove 4-ish hours towing a 10k lb boat and had to stop twice for charge. Both times the chargers weren't working at 100% power delivery. Because he was low on "gas", he had to unhitch his boat and leave it on the side of the road (parking lot) with his (attractive) wife sitting in it while he limped to a charger 5 miles further down the road. He unhitched because he thought (feared) he wouldn't make it to the charger hauling the boat.
This happened yesterday. It's as real as it gets. I'm not an EV person, however I keep my mind open. BIL's EV truck is beautiful and fun. But useless in the real world.
Fires, shrinking gas tank (battery range reduction in cold weather), poor charging infrastructure, inadequate battery range, heavy vehicle weight and poorer handling, unknown battery long term life and replacement cost. It's not for me.
Golf carts and grocery getters close to home - EVs are perfect for this. For real life, burning liquid hydrocarbons is the way to go.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Jul 30, 2023 at 05:29 PM.
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From: Florida
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
I already looked. Both are mild hybrid with lithium ion batteries. If you can fit in the X3 with the 4 cylinder engine, you can avoid their lithium batteries, but not with any six cylinder. Check Genesis GV70 or 80.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
I've already been at the dealer considering the same alternative. The new 2024 5 Series and X5 are no longer available without hybridization with a lithium battery for all engines.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Bay Area, CA
2017 C300
Is that right? I just have to see the car in person and check out the seats. I won't need a new car until next spring. My favorite is MB EQE, the first alternative is the new 5 Series and third would be the VW ID.7. I don't want fancy thing, just good ride, comfortable and solid.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
Our EQE now has close to 5k miles and has performed admirably in a whole range of temperatures so far. I'm keeping an eye on the story, but at this point, I feel very comfortable in the safety of the car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
Looks like the Freemantle Highway fire wasn't caused by an EV after all: https://thedriven.io/2023/08/14/sorr...electric-cars/
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 30
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From: FL
2023 EQE 500, 2022 CLA 45
Thank you for your understanding. Another factor from my reading is that our Summer temperatures in our area can frequently be in the 110-120F ambient range, as noted this Summer. Imagine the heat for parking a car on blacktop after driving. From other reading, I've learned that the comparisons of ICE to EV for fire are based on the entire population of ICE vehicles. However, the data showed that 75%+ of ICE events were on vehicles older than 10 years with lack of maintenance/negligence potential issues, so the generally published comparisons may merit more scrutiny.
No idea what caused the fire in the OP, but it was definitely not ambient temperature. Hope your mind is a little more at ease.
Cheers,
Uncle D
Last edited by Uncle D; Aug 22, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: NJ
EQE 500
I wouldn't be concerned so much with ambient temperatures. I don't work with the EQ batteries specifically, but I can tell you many of the components that go into MB vehicles are rated to operate at temps exceeding 100C (212F). I would expect the batteries to be safe at even higher temperatures. The worst case scenarios of the world's most extreme environments are taken into account when writing the requirements for all of the components in MB vehicles. Imagine what it's like in the deserts of the Middle East on the worst day of the year and you'll realize you have quite a bit of margin where you are located.
No idea what caused the fire in the OP, but it was definitely ambient temperature. Hope your mind is a little more at ease.
Cheers,
Uncle D
No idea what caused the fire in the OP, but it was definitely ambient temperature. Hope your mind is a little more at ease.
Cheers,
Uncle D
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Ugh that is always disappointing to hear, my condolences. I guess now we need to start putting/installing fire alarms in the garage : (
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E55 AMG 211
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Slk
You are sitting in a petrol vehicle.
It has caught fire.
Best advice at this point is exit the vehicle.
nomex underwear may help.
Depends what catches, doesn't it. Non-electric parts common to vehicles regardless of propulsion can smoulder a bit, or rapidly reach a peak energy output between 2MW and 6MW[1] which is undesirable to be close to.
the addition of 58kWh of rlectrical energy, or 40 litres of burning petroleum running downhill[2] are merely the icing on an already unattractive cake.
Merry crimbo etc all of you.
[1][2] see the fire service report of the Liverpool parking structure fire referring also to fire laboratory work. Google for the big PDF
i replaced my A class with an ID.3 after trying the EQA which is very nice. We will run yhe SLK for years yet if all goes well. As a suggestion, prefer vehicles designed de novo as BEVs to ICEVs or to EVs built on a platform designed for ICEVs, unless it is an interesting conversion.
It has caught fire.
Best advice at this point is exit the vehicle.
nomex underwear may help.
Depends what catches, doesn't it. Non-electric parts common to vehicles regardless of propulsion can smoulder a bit, or rapidly reach a peak energy output between 2MW and 6MW[1] which is undesirable to be close to.
the addition of 58kWh of rlectrical energy, or 40 litres of burning petroleum running downhill[2] are merely the icing on an already unattractive cake.
Merry crimbo etc all of you.
[1][2] see the fire service report of the Liverpool parking structure fire referring also to fire laboratory work. Google for the big PDF
i replaced my A class with an ID.3 after trying the EQA which is very nice. We will run yhe SLK for years yet if all goes well. As a suggestion, prefer vehicles designed de novo as BEVs to ICEVs or to EVs built on a platform designed for ICEVs, unless it is an interesting conversion.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2023
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Slk
Well, maybe...
Yeah, I guess likelihood is only half of it. If a gas car catches fire under the hood in your garage there's a good chance you'll be able to put it out with a fire extinguisher before the house burns down. If an EV catches fire in the garage don't even waste your time trying to put it out, run. And if a hydrogen car catches fire in the garage just kiss your butt goodbye as your house will soon be reduced to a pile of matchsticks. 
Empirically, the Liverpool, Norwegian, and Luton, large parking structures were ICEVFs, and had the common factors of a ceiling and running fuel. And building replacement. Used extinguishers were visible beside the Luton firestarter. Which implies bravery.
The Dutch experience of a single EV catching fire - under the bonnet - in a municipal garage was that thd sprinkler put it out and they didn't need a new building. I suspect the vehicle didn't go back into service, few do.
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From: Occupied Palestine
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I think youll find the chance of putting out a car with one car or domestic fire extinguisher (what sort do you have to hand? Really to hand?) Is ... only moderate.
Empirically, the Liverpool, Norwegian, and Luton, large parking structures were ICEVFs, and had the common factors of a ceiling and running fuel. And building replacement. Used extinguishers were visible beside the Luton firestarter. Which implies bravery.
The Dutch experience of a single EV catching fire - under the bonnet - in a municipal garage was that thd sprinkler put it out and they didn't need a new building. I suspect the vehicle didn't go back into service, few do.
Empirically, the Liverpool, Norwegian, and Luton, large parking structures were ICEVFs, and had the common factors of a ceiling and running fuel. And building replacement. Used extinguishers were visible beside the Luton firestarter. Which implies bravery.
The Dutch experience of a single EV catching fire - under the bonnet - in a municipal garage was that thd sprinkler put it out and they didn't need a new building. I suspect the vehicle didn't go back into service, few do.
Newbie
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Slk
It isn't very big, and here is the UK government interim guidance on supression
The gravamen of the Dutch experience was that the EV fire didn't burn the building down, cf the UK's two experiences and the Norwegians' one were that the ICEV ones did burn the building down. The fires are very extensively analysed and reported in big PDFs, really easy to find by people who care to.
There are a couple of other relevant reports, also easy to find.
If you happened to be building a car park (or even parking in one) you might find this interesting
https://assets.publishing.service.go...c-vehicles.pdf
