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Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mercedes-AMG One Catches Fire Again, Raises Safety Questions
$3M Mercedes-AMG One Catches Fire in Viral Video Priced at close to $3 million and limited to a planned 275 units, the Mercedes-AMG One hybrid hypercar is as exclusive as it gets, which is why the mere thought of one being damaged or lost is traumatic. Unfortunately, a new video has surfaced online of an AMG One burning to the ground. The clip was shared by user Chrimbu on social media, but no details were provided as to exactly where or how the blaze started. The fire does not appear to have been caused by an accident, though, which suggests the car unexpectedly caught alight. Complex Hybrid Powertrain To Blame? The extensively electrified powertrain of the AMG One isn't going to reduce the intensity of a fire. Besides the 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine, the One also features four electric motors and an 8.4-kWh lithium-ion battery. When exposed to extreme temperatures, lithium-ion batteries can result in thermal runaway. According to UL Research Institutes, this process causes the lithium-ion cell to enter a self-heating state that is difficult to stop. Furthermore, it makes it more challenging to extinguish such a fire. There's no way of knowing if the AMG One's powertrain caused the fire we see here, but it's likely that the battery and associated components further fueled the flames. When it's not lighting up the sky, the AMG One's performance is pretty hot, with the hypercar capable of a 0-62 mph sprint time of 2.9 seconds. It will reach around 218 mph, too. Not The First AMG One To Catch Alight Almost exactly two years ago, The Sun reported on another AMG One that was burned to a crisp. Allegedly, this one was being towed in Staffordshire, England, when it burst into flames. The fact that the car was switched off and being towed at the time makes this an especially bizarre event. 'We are aware of this incident involving a car that was being transported in a closed trailer as part of its assembly process,' said a spokesperson for Mercedes at the time. As one of AMG's most ambitious projects ever, Mercedes faced a number of hurdles in developing the hypercar. Ola Kallenius, Mercedes-Benz CEO, once even joked that the board must surely have been 'drunk' when it was decided to forge ahead with the car. Adapting the F1 powertrain for use on the street was one of the biggest challenges, and considering how long it took to get everything right, it's all the more disheartening that at least two Ones have been destroyed. Source: Mercedes-AMG Is The AMG One A Fire Risk? While hybrid and EV naysayers may be quick to point at the elevated fire risks of electrified cars, it's impossible to know for sure if this is an inherent flaw in the AMG hypercar. Certainly, two burned cars will raise eyebrows – especially since this is one of the most expensive cars in the world – but these could be entirely isolated incidents that have nothing to do with each other. Presently, no known recalls have been issued for the AMG One, nor have any known injuries occurred as a result of these fires. All we're left with, then, are two enormous insurance claims and a hypercar world deprived of two spectacular track toys.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota just scored $4.5 million to fix EVs' biggest flaw — here's what it's doing
In an important first step, the Department of Energy gave Toyota $4.5 million to fund its electric vehicle battery sustainability project. One of the biggest concerns about EVs is their batteries. According to UL Research Institutes, lithium-ion batteries (which EVs are usually powered by) become electronic waste when they're disposed of, contributing to pollution and possible fires in landfills. Lithium mining also leads to pollution. Brine extraction, which is one way battery minerals are mined, sucks up water and uses "toxic chemicals to process lithium." Because of this, many people have reservations about using EVs. (While these concerns are valid, it should be noted that EVs are more eco-friendly than gas-powered cars, regardless of their batteries.) In the very near future, those concerns may be completely addressed and resolved. Toyota's new project boils down to better management of EV battery waste. The company plans on evaluating each battery component to try to extend battery life, reduce what's disposed of, and recycle parts. The goal is to do this on an industrial level. Multiple laboratories and research centers — the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Baker Hughes' Waygate Technologies — are helping Toyota in its endeavor. They're collaborating on developing high-end tech that can swiftly analyze battery parts, speeding up the recycling process. "By extending the life of the battery components, we reduce their total emissions per mile," Marm Dixit of ORNL told Electrek. "That's a big deal for the role EVs can play in the energy transition." This is one of many recent advancements for EVs. In December, Mercedes-Benz partnered with startup Factorial to create state-of-the-art, long-range EV batteries. The more advancements there are with EVs, the better it'll be for the planet. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Good stuff," one Redditor said. "Sorely needed." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
