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***Viral video shows experimental battery ejection tech, but critics question its safety in real-world crashes ***

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EV fires, notoriously difficult to extinguish once they start, remain one of the toughest challenges for carmakers. Engineers continue racing to design battery packs resilient enough to survive crashes without igniting. In China, however, a very different approach has been showcased: a high-speed ejection system that literally launches the pack away like a projectile from the vehicle during an emergency.

If that sounds less like a safety breakthrough and more like and accident waiting to happen, you’re getting the idea. And yes, it really is that stupid.

Battery Launcher

The unusual demonstration was captured in a video that went viral on Chinese social media. The clip shows a large battery module violently shooting out of the side of an SUV before smoke appears. Safety workers quickly smothered the pack with a special blanket after it landed in a designated area with pillows.

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