Eventually, I hope, we will move to safer battery designs less prone to thermal runaway.
It might take a few decades, though. Town gas (made from coal, a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) was used for several decades before the change to natural gas (all methane), despite the explosions and suicides.
That battery blanket demo is pretty sweet, I hope every fire department gets one as standard issue
> it does concern electric vehicles (EVs), which are a significant part of the broader AI discourse.
made me laugh. i hope that was the intent.
Battery fires are nasty; Fire Departments are going to be dealing with more of them, EV cars or not. Exploding cell phones is not such a big deal anymore, but antiquated rechargeable tool and toy batteries are going to be causing fun in attics and odd corners for years.
There's a place in a nearby town that works with magnesium, they have a big storage shed full of it. Occasionally, this catches fire; and the local Fire Depts all gather round and watch the entire stockpile burn. Excellent training opportunity, what to do with a fire you cannot put out. Keep it from spreading, as far as you can.