Vehicle fires getting out of control

[m4rmite]

Yes indeed, notice I did say it might increase the risk of a fire, which of course might lead to one. But rarely will a petrol spill directly onto a hot engine cause a fire. Granted a spill onto a fully hot manifold might, but even that's not a given. And it's rare.

There's 35,000 vehicle fires a year in the uk alone so somethings happening across all scenarios.

 

[Rolfe]

I think it's more about weight distribution. As you say Defenders and most ICE SUV's weigh more than a lot of EVs but you might find they are putting them on the lower decks already and they are worried there won't be not enough room for an increase in the number of EVs. The last thing you want is a top heavy ship.

I expect you're right. They do say it's not an issue at the moment, but something they need to think about for the future.

There was something about getting data on actual individual vehicle weights. But last time I booked on a CalMac ferry (as opposed to just rocking up and driving on), as soon as I entered my car number plate the form was automatically populated by the car's vital statistics, including the weight. So they already have the information.

I haven't been on one of their bigger boats with the mezzanine decks, and I imagine it's these decks that are the issue. But I predict it will be a long time, if ever, before they can't find enough (say) sub-2-tonne cars to put up there.

I saw on Twitter that some obsessive had been lobbying CalMac about the dangers of carrying these burny-burny electric cars, apparently trying to get them banned from ferries. Which would be a huge problem for drivers in Scotland. However the Twitter thread included the information that the complainant was dissatisfied with CalMac's response. Good.

I suspect that this news item may be CalMac's way of dealing with the complaint, getting the word out that EV fires are not a concern (because they're very rare and they have the equipment to deal with one if it happens) but they do have the whole issue of EVs on board in their sights.

 

[siteguru]

But last time I booked on a CalMac ferry (as opposed to just rocking up and driving on), as soon as I entered my car number plate the form was automatically populated by the car's vital statistics, including the weight. So they already have the information.

Ditto ... but I'm not sure the weights are (were) correct. It thought my SE SR was 1500 kg (I think) yet we know that it is a minimum of 1655 kg.

FWIW the Arran and Lewis ferries have mezzanine decks, but each time I've been assigned to the main deck. (Coming back from Lewis [Stornoway] I was parked right next to an MG4 Trophy).

 

[Data]

There's 35,000 vehicle fires a year in the uk alone so somethings happening across all scenarios.

Quite a few are caused by diesel vehicle regen cycles. Some are caused by active petrol particulate filter cycles. Often not fuel leaks but those do account for some. Electrical fires are big on the list. So varied causes.

 

[Rolfe]

Ditto ... but I'm not sure the weights are (were) correct. It thought my SE SR was 1500 kg (I think) yet we know that it is a minimum of 1655 kg.

FWIW the Arran and Lewis ferries have mezzanine decks, but each time I've been assigned to the main deck. (Coming back from Lewis [Stornoway] I was parked right next to an MG4 Trophy).

My SE SR was definitely noted as something like 1,680 kg (I can't remember exactly). I have to book on the Mallaig to Armadale sailing again so I'll see what it says this time.

I'm thinking of doing an immersion course on Uist so I was a bit concerned when I saw the headline and thought they might be going to restrict EV carriage. I don't really want to fly and be stuck without any transport once I'm there. The best way seems to be to drive over the Skye bridge to Uig and sail to Lochmaddy from there.