Originally Posted by
MG23
Batteries, you know, tend to catch fire even in normal operation if you're not very careful.
A bit early for panto season, but "Oh no they don't!". Amongst other things this "self-flambe-panic" stuff is generally deemed to be a "lithium issue" (mainly with Lithium-cobalt technology) and if all you have is Lithium batteries this aeroplane will never become real. If it is to happen then it will need a different (denser) battery chemistry, and there is no reason tro assume that will be any more fire-prone than a bog-standard AA alkaline.
But even for the Lithium technologies the suggestion doesn't really stand scrutiny. As far as I'm aware every single case of lithium battery fires to date has been able to be traced to one of four things:
1. Damage
2. Abuse (operation, handling or storage not in accordance with specification)
3. Manufacturing defect in the cells or the charging/conditioning system
4. Design error in the battery installation or the charger/conditioner system
As far as I am aware (and I have studied this at some length) there has *never* been an instance where a Lithium battery has caught fire "in normal operation". Subsequent investigations have always found one of causes 1-4 was involved.