Since the battery array was almost certainly installed in the container at the factory, I would have expected ventilation to be taken care of at that time.
If it turns out that it was a factory assembly that failed, there will be some serious repercussions to the manufacturer.
There was a photo published, and comments in the article indicate it was a Narada packaged unit. They use LiFe(PO4) batteries. They are, of course, out of China.
As is just about everything related to the so called green energy stuff.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are among the most resistant Lithium chemistries to thermal runaway, which is one reason they are frequently used in consumer electronic equipment. Presumably the container included ventilation for cooling, and that may have been obstructed by the placement of the unit.
The comment suggested they don't use LiFe(PO4) exclusively. Do you know that unit was LiFe(PO4)? Seems like Pb is more likely to explode. Is there a mechanism for a non-explosive hot fire to cause the damage shown?
I think you are right.
That advice currently only applies to Bolts without either an interim firmware update (that limits the capacity to 80% of original) or a replaced battery. I haven't been following closely, but I don't think there have been any reports of fires on vehicles with the interim firmware update. Of course, capping the capacity is a bandaid while the batteries are being replaced, and owners aren't happy about the reduction in utility.
If you go to Narada's web site, they say they are using the LiFe(PO4) chemistry specifically to mitigate explosion hazards, but they do have a lead/carbon offering and what they call "tubular flooded" which is a lead-acid chemistry.
