Read the article and it's not plausible, still got patch written all over it.
Article quotes Connor as saying the cells will have enhanced spacing, in a box which will vent to outside the aircraft. Fine so far but he then says that the batteries will be in an oxygen free environment to prevent fire.
Thermal runaway with Li-Ion generates it's own oxygen as part of the process or are they using 'special' batteries.
Article also quotes Connor as saying Airbus have made the right decision to revert to Ni-Cd at this stage, while defending Boeing's commitment to Li-Ion; Read as "We can't do that because it would take too long".
This re-affirms my belief that Boeing are out on a limb with the 'Electric plane' concept and are committed to the Li-Ion solution.