"If we'd lived upstairs in this house, then we'd be dead."How to Burn BatteriesThe Washington Post reports that many carmakers have pulled the plug on their electric cars due to the possibility of them setting themselves on fire while charging in garages.This is a worrying development for technology that aims to eliminate gas-guzzling internal combustion engine from public roads. However, it should be noted that electric cars are still relatively safe and better for the environment.Total RecallEven after being fully charged, electric cars left parked in public and private parking lots can catch fire. Chevrolet had to recall over 60,000 Bolt EVs last Month, the second such recall. It advised its customers that the cars might spontaneously combust.EVs that catch fire can be very difficult to extinguish. This is evident in several high-profile Tesla crashes.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt remains to be determined how widespread this problem is. The Post says there is no evidence that EVs catch on fire faster than gasoline-powered vehicles. However, it did not collect comprehensive data.Hot FireHowever, there is always the possibility of disaster. A car battery is a huge storehouse of potential energy that can be used to unleash its full potential.One particularly tragic incident saw a Tesla Model S charging in a garage catch fire, setting off a second vehicle on fire.Yogi Vindum, a retired mechanical engineering engineer, said that if we had lived upstairs, we would have been dead. The fire was so hot that firefighters couldn't get up the driveway.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis worrying trend highlights the importance regulation in all industries, including green.READ MORE: Their Teslas caught fire in their garage while they were sleeping. This is a risk that many automakers take seriously. [The Washington Post]Tesla fires: More: Fire Chief: Tesla reports grossly exaggerated: Fiery Tesla crash
