Forensic Engineering Analyses Of The Potential For Hydrogen Gas Ignition While Charging Golf Car Batteries

Abstract

After An Early Morning Fire Occurred In A Golf Car Storage Facility The Plaintiffs Experts Opined That The Fire Occurred As A Result Of The Ignition Of Liberated Hydrogen Gas Which Was Generated During The Charging Process. During The Course Of Their Investigation The Plaintiffs Elected To Preserve Only Two Of The Golf Cars And Four Of The Chargers Without Any Documentation As To Which If Any Of The Chargers Were Plugged Into The Two Golf Cars. The Fire Scene Was Not Made Available To The Defendants And The Scene Was Only Marginally Documented Via Photographs. Due To The Destruction And Lack Of Documentation Of The Fire Scene It Was Impossible For The Defendants To Determine The True Fire Origin Area And The Actual Cause Of The Fire. Further, The Environment Surrounding The Golf Cars Was Static And The Potential Ignition Sources Were Not Documented During The On Scene Investigation By The Plaintiffs. The Defendants Elected To Defend The Case By Demonstrating The Difficulty Of Liberating Free Hydrogen From Golf Car Batteries Such As To Accumulate Hydrogen In The Explosive Range.