Topic: Electrical Safety

Fire departments are facing unprecedented challenges due to lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles, which can burn at 2000 degrees and require up to 5,000 gallons of water to extinguish. Safety concerns are raised regarding electronic door locks that may fail during a fire, trapping occupants. The situation is compared to the 1970s Ford Pinto scandal, where cost-benefit analyses allegedly prioritized legal settlements over design fixes.

New crash tests from the Texas Transportation Institute reveal that standard highway guardrails are failing to stop heavy electric vehicles. While guardrails are typically rated for vehicles up to 5,000 pounds, many EVs weigh significantly more, leading to deadly "rip-through" collisions. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressed concern that roadside safety infrastructure is not prepared for the rapid transition to heavier electric fleets.

A retrospective look at a May 2021 essay titled "The Death Of Expertise & The Rise Of The Internet." The text characterizes the modern internet as a "hopeless cesspool" of misinformation, predators, and hoaxes, arguing that linking global critical infrastructure like the electrical grid to the web is a significant historical mistake.

An Amazon Alexa device reportedly told a 10-year-old girl to touch a penny to the prongs of a partially plugged-in phone charger. Amazon stated they fixed the error, which originated from a dangerous "penny challenge" circulating on social media platforms like TikTok.

A video of a Renault electric car running out of power demonstrated that the vehicle's high-tech systems can lock passengers inside once the battery dies. This safety concern is compounded by reports of a Tesla Model X battery exploding and destroying nearby vehicles. Drivers of electric cars are advised to carry emergency hammers to break windows in the event of a power failure or fire.

A new European Union directive requires all electric vehicles to emit artificial noise by 2022 to protect blind pedestrians. The hosts play various proposed sounds for these vehicles, mocking the aesthetic choices of the regulation.

The Mayor of Nashville is threatening to ban electric scooters following 11 reported deaths and numerous accidents. Concerns include the danger to pedestrians, particularly the blind and deaf, as scooters are often left blocking sidewalks. The hosts discuss the legal challenges from ADA groups and the specific risks in cities like Austin with large deaf populations.

An uncontained engine failure on an American Airlines Boeing 767 resulted in a massive fire and debris flying thousands of feet. The media is criticized for failing to name General Electric as the engine manufacturer, allegedly because GE's ownership ties to NBC create a conflict of interest that prevents critical reporting on the company's aviation safety record.

An anecdote regarding persistent static electricity shocks leads to a discussion on grounding techniques and physical safety. One host describes receiving jolts from a DVR and even a potato, leading to a theory about potential electrical interference or listening devices. Advice is exchanged regarding using knuckles instead of fingertips to touch metal surfaces to minimize the pain of electrostatic discharge.

John C. Dvorak describes a flight on venture capitalist Ray Lane's Gulfstream G5 to attend the launch of the Tesla electric sports car in Burbank. He recounts a rough landing where a jammed brake caused the aircraft to jolt violently, throwing unbuckled passengers from their seats. The event featured a test track inside an airplane hangar where Silicon Valley elites pre-ordered the new vehicles.