If it safe to have batteries in rear seat area

1943 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by brian_, Jun 10, 2020

BruceL

Discussion Starter · May 31, 2020

I'm converting a '76 Porsche 912E (that E wasn't for electric, but will be after I'm done!!!) and usually shops like EVWest and Zelectric split the batteries into 2 halves w/ half up front and half behind the motor is the rear. The weight distribution of this setup would be better than the factory's as the front end of these cars have a floaty feeling as not much weight is up front. Since I have no use of the rear seat area, I'm thinking if I can put 1/3 or 1/4 of the batteries in the rear seat area starting w/ a few LG modules on the floor, next level above the bottom modules and across the small central tunnel hump and more on the seat floor, then I can achieve much better weight distribution. But my biggest concern is safety, as in the case of getting in an accident with a severe side impact, how likely will these battery packs burst into flame? Do you have batteries inside the passenger compartment? How safe do you feel in doing so?
Edit: Sorry about the typo in the title, should have typed "Is it safe..."

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dtbaker

· #2 · Jun 10, 2020

can't answer this without knowing what kind of batteries you have, and what kind of box you are planning to put them in...

regardless, design box to mechanically restrain batteries in case of accident/rollover; particularly in case of a head-on, anything loose behind you could still be moving at 60mph.

Plan on 20G in case of crash.

'bursting into flame' with lithium only occurs in overcharge of really badly balanced packs or badly configured chargers, and only with specific battery chemistry. LiFePO4 for instance may vent goo and small if overcharged, but no flames.

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brian_

· #3 · Jun 10, 2020

Chrysler puts those modules in a metal case... just like every other auto manufacturer. They also provide planned venting. They know what they're doing.

In vehicles designed as EVs or substantially modified in design to be an EV the battery pack is always under the floor, not inside. Some of that is just to make assembly practical, and it is common in hybrids to place the high voltage battery pack in the interior.

The fire issue typically occurs in amateur installations due to very poor charge management, but in production EVs it is more commonly due to physical damage in a collision... so yes, a good enclosure makes sense to me.

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