Pic#4 from dailymail, shows a good battery with what appears to be an insulating cover (Teflon perhaps?) - I am wondering if that is a temporary protection (against dropping tools etc. before closing the blue box) or on the contrary it is to be installed permanently?
Given that it doesn't cover the most delicate part of the system (the PCBs and multi-pin connectors) but does cover the battery terminals I would suggest that this insulation is installed permanently to prevent any shorting of the exposed battery terminals, particularly from damage caused to the fairly thin (conducting) case lid less than 1cm above them.
save 20% on fuel, but spend multiple times that on batteries....
I very much doubt that ANY customer will have paid the estimated $66,000 replacement cost for any of these batteries unless it can be proved that the battery was rendered u/s by customer mishandling.
