VW in court: Felicity Ace fire at the focus of a million-dollar fight!

VW in court: Felicity Ace fire at the focus of a million-dollar fight!

An incredibly sensational legal dispute began today at the regional court in Braunschweig. The focus is on the car transporter “Felicity Ace”, which burst into flames in the Atlantic in 2022 and ultimately sank. There were around 4,000 cars on board the freighter, including several electric vehicles. Now the plaintiffs - consisting of the ship owner, the shipping company and the insurer - are demanding compensation from Volkswagen (VW) because they suspect that a lithium-ion battery from a Porsche Taycan caused the fire. The amount of damage is believed to be in the three-digit million range, but remains controversial, as [ndr.de](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/braunschweig_harz_goettingen/Hat-vw-auto-frachterbrand-verursacht-verfahren-um- Schadensatz,autofrachter-100.html) reports.

VW, on the other hand, rejects the allegations and argues that the fire was caused by other circumstances. In order to fully clarify the events, a detailed procedure now follows, which was made necessary by a failed quality procedure. A crucial question is whether the electric cars caused the fire or whether they were simply affected by an existing fire. At the same time, further proceedings are ongoing at the Stuttgart Regional Court, where damages are also being demanded from Porsche.

E-cars: Fire hazard in focus

The “Felicity Ace” fire has reignited the debate about the safety of electric vehicles on ships. Experts point out that although lithium-ion batteries are developed under strict safety standards, they still pose a certain risk: they can ignite if damaged externally or internally, a condition known as thermal runaway. Temperature peaks of over 900 degrees Celsius are possible, which means that conventional extinguishing methods often fail. This brings into the spotlight the safety precautions on ships where the extinguishing system on board apparently did not work optimally, as described in reports from bam.de.

The plaintiffs also argue that the foam extinguishing system, which was specifically unsuitable for electric car battery fires, was not sufficient. In view of these dangers, they accuse VW and the shipping company of not providing enough information about the risks. This will be examined in more detail during the trial by first hearing from experts and later witnesses.

Precautions when transporting lithium-ion batteries

The discussion surrounding the dangers of electric cars and their batteries is of great importance, especially with regard to transport. Companies like ThorPak offer special solutions to minimize the risks when transporting and storing lithium-ion batteries in e-mobility. These products aim to protect both the environment and investments by ensuring the safe transport of batteries and therefore careful handling, including damaged or late-life batteries. You can read more about the safety precautions and requirements for transporting lithium-ion batteries at wi-sales.com.

It remains to be seen how the proceedings in Braunschweig will go and what consequences this fire will have for the entire industry. The World Shipping Organization is already planning to expand the regulations for the transport of electric cars, showing that there is an urgent need for action here.