Music and racing go together like a well-oiled machine!

With this feature, we seek to capture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, issues, events, and just plain fun questions. You might see us anywhere around town with notepad and camera, randomly seeking out folks who are willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.

At the Chamber for Young

Professionals at Indy Karting & Amusement, we asked: “what music is playing in your head as you’re racing around the track?”

LITHIUM from page 1A no local photos available. Although the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a detailed section on lithium batteries, neither did they have images of such fires. The same cannot be said for other areas of the country.

On July 9, in an apartment building in Chevy Chase, Md., firefighters were called to a fire in an apartment on the third floor. They extinguished the fire, and were checking for extension and searching.

“Cells in the battery pack shot out and launched across the room, landing in front of us on fire,” said Bill Riley of Company 6. He said it was a battery pack for a portable camera/photographer light that had been exposed to the fire. “Another cell went under the dishwasher causing a secondary fire with the dishwasher. Even after taking multiple classes, and even giving several classes about lithium-ion batteries, to see one actually explode and shoot across the room was pretty impres- sive. Also, to find a secondary fire in the kitchen area away from the primary fire area was eye opening of this fire danger.”

A lithium battery fire is not an ordinary housefire in which one can extinguish the flames with a wet blanket, flour, salt or even a home extinguisher.

“The problem with lithium batteries is it’s not like a typical fire. It’s more of a chemical reaction. It gets somewhere over 2500 degrees. These things can get that hot,” said Van Nes. “I’ve seen where those batteries could explode and go up to 60 feet. At that point, it’s a chemical reaction that takes a lot of water. We’re actually not going to put the fire out. We’re just going to cool it enough that this reaction is going to stop.”

Van Nes, who came to Bluffton from New York City, said there are a lot of these fires in apartments.

“People are charging inside. They’re not using the correct equipment. They’re

LITHIUM from page 8A plugging their kid’s scooter in and going into work,” he said. “This is a big topic. There was an online symposium that the Washington, D.C., fire department put with the International Fire Chiefs Association for chiefs across the country. They do a yearly safety week, and the focus this this year was these lithium-ion batteries.”

Car fires that use the lithium-ion batteries take thousands and thousands of gallons of water just to cool them down.

“The number one cause of electrical vehicle fires is accidents. The number two reason is not using the correct charging. Ford and Teslas can now be charged on the same charger. Tesla’s got those rapid chargers, and that’s like buying the online cheap one,” said Van Nes. “They don’t jive together.”

There are 7,104 lithium-ion cells in most Teslas. The latest configuration numbers 8,256 cells. All of the batteries are located beneath the floor pan of the vehicle. Between the front and rear wheels.

Van Nes said if you get in a car crash get out of your car. But how? Everything these days is electric with no way to roll down the windows.

“There are manual releases, but people don’t know where they are, and they’re there. They’re not in the same in every car, they have to be within arm’s length, and every car is different,” he said. “So make sure unless you look in your owner’s manual, you’re probably not going to know where that manual release is. After a crash is not the time to be looking in the owner’s manual.”

The lifespan of most automobile lith- ium-ion batteries has not been reached, with the estimated mileage between 300,000 and 500,000 or reportedly 22-37 years for someone who drives 40 miles a day. But laptops, cell phones, scooters, E-bikes, and the smoke alarms with the 10-year sealed batteries all have shorter shelf lives, and require special handling when it comes to disposal.

“The lithium batteries need to be taken to the household hazardous waste area where they can be properly stored away from the elements, and those are accepted at our four large centers,” said Victoria Hoffman, Solid Waste and Recycling Program manager.

Lithium batteries are accepted at the four big convenience centers: Bluffton, 104 Simmonsville Road; Hilton Head, 26 Summit Drive; Beaufort, 80 Shanklin Road; and St. Helena, 639 Sea Island Parkway. See the attendant for assistance because lithium batteries need special handling.

According to DHEC, Li-ion and other rechargeable batteries can be recycled at major retailers (e.g., Lowe’s, Best Buy, The Home Depot) that participate in the Call2Recycle program. The program is free to residents. To find a participating location near you, visit www.call2recycle.org.

Beaufort County conducts quarterly E-waste events at the Shanklin Road site and at 9 Benton Field Road in Bluffton. The next E-waste event will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 26.

Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.

Meet our Contributors

GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS, JOURNALIST

Lowcountry resident for 13.5 years

Gwyneth was born in Pennsylvania, raised in South Jersey, now living in Bluffton. She retired from the U.S. Navy after 26 years as a Navy journalist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Norfolk State University (“Go Spartans”). Married 19.5 years to Tony, an adorable Welshman. They have two sweet rescue cats, Tigger the tripod and Benji (neither are spoiled). She is a member of Sun City Veterans Association; chorus, Sundancers, softball, art, and computer clubs. A Philadelphia Eagles fan, Gwyneth love pasta, sushi and great burgers. Love my family, friends. I have the best job.

ENJOYS: Books, performing, art, cooking

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