On an EV forum I have been following a discussion about the repair of a faulty Nissan Leaf EV. The owner is now considering replacing the entire battery, which is in a sealed box under the car and weighs 300kg. He has located one at a breaker's, 450 miles away, but it is "collect only", and the Seller does not know of any shippers or couriers who will handle an EV battery. Any suggestions?
- Thread starter eddie49
- Start date
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,424
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
Some of the pallet guys will ship them. Do a search for "Adr pallet service"
You may struggle more to get them to collect from a breakers yard as they may presume its 'damaged'.
Maybe ask around a few other breakers as I'd guess ev's are not part of that breakers usual stock if they don't know how to ship batteries. If they don't know how to ship them I'd also question if they have the ability to test them correctly and actually know they are any good?
Not exactly rare are they? I'd think it would be easier to fi d another than arrange shipping for that one?
You may struggle more to get them to collect from a breakers yard as they may presume its 'damaged'.
Maybe ask around a few other breakers as I'd guess ev's are not part of that breakers usual stock if they don't know how to ship batteries. If they don't know how to ship them I'd also question if they have the ability to test them correctly and actually know they are any good?
Not exactly rare are they? I'd think it would be easier to fi d another than arrange shipping for that one?
I know nothing of shiping EV batteries but why couldn't the buyer hire a Van and collect it or are there other transport practicalities to consider?
Erie Fred
Member
- Messages
- 5,833
- Location
- Erie, Pa USofA
until it explodes...
There are companies making specialized carry boxes lined with fire suppressing panels just for the job.
Still not understanding, why would transporting a 300kg EV battery in a hired van make it any more prone to exploding.
Erie Fred
Member
- Messages
- 5,833
- Location
- Erie, Pa USofA
I have designed test fixtures for these batteries.
Been around the engineers for some time now.
I have learned that:
They go off at pretty much any time.
Charge too fast
Discharge too fast
Drop them (not as far as you would think, under 3' or so depending on shock)
Or look at them crosseyed....(my own saying)
and when they go "off" they really go....
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,424
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
Yet there are thousands of them travelling around the country every day at 60mph+ driving by non-professionals that would have no idea what to do if one catches fire..
Why do they suddenly become so dangerous when removed from a vehicle?
I'd think they could be discharged before transporting as well?
Unlike when still fitted to a car as they'll likely be kept as fully charged as possible..
Why do they suddenly become so dangerous when removed from a vehicle?
I'd think they could be discharged before transporting as well?
Unlike when still fitted to a car as they'll likely be kept as fully charged as possible..
Erie Fred
Member
- Messages
- 5,833
- Location
- Erie, Pa USofA
How is it mounted in the car ?
On rubber ?
Where does the fire exit upon ignition ?
Most battery packs I am familiar with have an actual exhaust port for the fire.
And there are many, many videos showing cars lighting up for no reason.
Burning right to the ground, whilst firemen pour thousands of gallons of water on
them to no avail.
One was on a beeg boat had IIRC 4000 cars on it...recall that one ? Not even being driven at the time.
Ubique
Member
- Messages
- 2,282
- Location
- East Midlands
If it's at a breakers, it's likely to have been handled 'roughly', having worked on many BEV's, personally I'd leave it there. Even if you get it transported without any incident, there's likely to be internal stress damage that will only show up under charge or discharge, maybe some weeks or months down the line. I'm also not sure the owners insurance would class a self-repair as insurable.
This may give you an idea of the possibilities, all procedures were followed correctly and no-one was 'to blame' (except the loon that thought putting self-combusting batteries in a car as the primary source of motive power a good idea....), note it was several weeks after the battery was removed before the incident, the battery was removed due to an integral BMS fault, no issues were identified with the cells prior to removal.
This may give you an idea of the possibilities, all procedures were followed correctly and no-one was 'to blame' (except the loon that thought putting self-combusting batteries in a car as the primary source of motive power a good idea....), note it was several weeks after the battery was removed before the incident, the battery was removed due to an integral BMS fault, no issues were identified with the cells prior to removal.
daedalusminos
Member
- Messages
- 2,320
- Location
- Norwich
Just try an independent van delivery service such as Shipley.
I've heard if you use the cigarette lighter whilst going up a hill and indicating left. They blow up every time.
skotl
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 10,132
- Location
- Edinburgh, UK
Layperson here, just reading the thread out of interest and throwing in a totally-not-asked-for opinion...
Must admit that as I started reading the thread my leaning was toward the "What's the problem? Gaffer tape and a pallet and job's a good 'un!" but I'm now siding with those who cite it as being utterly not worth the risk. The reality is that you have no idea of the history of a battery unit, nor how it's been handled during and after removal. @Ubique's post was illuminating.
I'd give the entire notion of an unknown used EV battery a body swerve, to be honest. Which does have significant ramifications for the future of EVs... Does this mean that electric cars older than, say, ten years are going to be unsellable, if you need to splurge £12k for a manufacturer-supplied replacement battery pack?
Yikes - this post went off-topic, quickly!
Must admit that as I started reading the thread my leaning was toward the "What's the problem? Gaffer tape and a pallet and job's a good 'un!" but I'm now siding with those who cite it as being utterly not worth the risk. The reality is that you have no idea of the history of a battery unit, nor how it's been handled during and after removal. @Ubique's post was illuminating.
I'd give the entire notion of an unknown used EV battery a body swerve, to be honest. Which does have significant ramifications for the future of EVs... Does this mean that electric cars older than, say, ten years are going to be unsellable, if you need to splurge £12k for a manufacturer-supplied replacement battery pack?
Yikes - this post went off-topic, quickly!
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,424
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
I guess the insurance companies will write off a Leaf just the same as any other car.
Could be something like vandalism where all the windows are smashed and all the paint scratched....
Or, it could have been in a flood and submerged for 3 days...
My earlier point.. I've seen ev battries advertised with the state-of-health (remaining capacity) advertised. I'd think the breakers that know how to test and check a battery would also know how to get it delivered to the customer.
I'd be wary of that breakers, not particularly worried about buying a used one in general.
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,424
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
Another option,
Get a cost to run the broken Leaf upto the breakers on a transporter.
They fit the battery there, drive the Leaf home.
That's presuming the battery is actually the problem. I can see issues if the 'new' one is fitted and it still won't work..
Get a cost to run the broken Leaf upto the breakers on a transporter.
They fit the battery there, drive the Leaf home.
That's presuming the battery is actually the problem. I can see issues if the 'new' one is fitted and it still won't work..
Bullet2012
Member
- Messages
- 5,364
- Location
- on average about 200 miles from the ISS.
Online Vehicle Auctions Copart UK: Salvage & Used Cars, Trucks & More
Join live online vehicle auctions and bid to buy salvage & used cars, trucks, motorcycles, construction equipment, boats, fleet vehicles and more.
www.copart.co.uk
willie.macleod
Member
- Messages
- 895
- Location
- Western Isles, Scotland
Leafs came out in the UK 2011 - might just have reached its natural end of life, if this is the pack I think it is in Aberdeen then it looks like its a 24kWh pack so a relatively early model. I'd also be looking to swap it for a larger pack at this stage.
