Lithium-ion battery goes offline due to overheating, for the second time

Toyota and Yamaha join forces to develop a hydrogen-fueled V8 engine, Bill Gates warns COVID-19 risks reduced, but another pandemic is at hand. Feb 20, 2022 [View in browser]( For the second time in 5 months, the energy storage facility owned by Vistra Energy experienced another overheating incident. What could be going wrong? This lithium-ion battery is the largest energy storage plant in the world. But now, it’s powered down indefinitely. How about getting inspired by an extra-terrestrial vehicle before getting to this troubled energy storage system? Greetings. I’m Mert Erdemir, an editor here at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get into it. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [You won't believe this extraterrestrial sports car is custom-made]( Who said a passion for cars and a love of outer space cannot be combined? [You won't believe this extraterrestrial sports car is custom-made]( SCIENCE [Lithium-ion battery goes offline due to overheating, for the second time]( [Moss Landing Power Plant]( An energy storage facility owned by Vistra Energy in Moss Landing, California houses the largest [lithium-ion battery]( in the world. The only problem is [the battery packs keep on melting.]( Last weekend on February 13, the facility experienced another meltdown, the second in five months, [according to local broadcaster KSBW](. What could be going wrong? It all began when four fire trucks responded to a fire alarm at the energy company's site. When they arrived the fire had been subdued by the facility’s fire suppression system. There were no flames but ten lithium-ion battery packs had been melted. Vistra then released the [following statement]( on February 15: "Late on February 13, the early detection safety system activated in the 100-megawatt Phase II building at our Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility. As is our protocol at all of our facilities, we contacted off-site emergency response out of an abundance of caution. The building’s systems contained the event without the need for outside assistance. There are no injuries to personnel." Lithium-ion batteries not only ignite easily but also produce fires that are difficult to contain because water does not put them out. Vistra added that it was now looking further into the new incident. [Read More]( TRANSPORTATION [Toyota and Yamaha join forces to develop hydrogen-fueled V8 engine]( [New hydrogen-burning V8.]( For years now firms have been promising to deliver on hydrogen engines, claiming that hydrogen is the [clean fuel of the future](. However, we have seen little in terms of development. This could all soon change. Carmakers [Toyota and Yamaha have joined forces]( to develop a hydrogen-fueled 5.0-liter V8 engine, [according to a statement]( released by Yamaha this Thursday. The hydrogen engine is not entirely new. It's based on a model currently in use by the Lexus RC F sports coupé. It has, however, seen many modifications made to become a hydrogen version with changes included to the injectors, heads, intake manifold, and other parts. The engine is said to deliver 449bhp at 6800rpm and 398lb-ft at 3600rpm, some pretty impressive features. Those who doubt the firms' ability to deliver the new engine should note that the two companies have had fruitful collaborations before. They joined forces on the Lexus LFA hypercar's 552bhp 4.8-liter V10, a venture that proved very successful. Eco-friendly alternatives. Now, the carmakers are focusing on more eco-friendly alternatives. Yamaha president Yoshihiro Hidaka said that: “Hydrogen engines house the potential to be carbon neutral while keeping our passion for the internal combustion engine alive at the same time." [Read More]( HEALTH [Bill Gates warns COVID-19 risks reduced, but another pandemic is at hand]( [Bill Gates holding his book.]( Just last month, visionary billionaire Bill Gates [warned of pandemics]( that could turn out worse than COVID-19. On Friday, the entrepreneur[told CNBC]( that the risks of severe disease from the coronavirus have “dramatically reduced” but [another pandemic is at hand](. The warning is bound to scare anyone who is familiar with [Gates' accurate predictions.]( Another pandemic on the way. “We’ll have another pandemic. It will be a different pathogen next time,” Gates said to CNBC’s Hadley Gamble at Germany’s annual Munich Security Conference. Gates also added that the next time a pandemic appeared the world should move faster to engineer and deliver vaccines. “Next time we should try and make it, instead of two years, we should make it more like six months,” Gates said. Gates, however, had hope that authorities would do better with the next pandemic as the process to tackling it is fairly simple and not too expensive. “The cost of being ready for the next pandemic is not that large. It’s not like climate change. If we’re rational, yes, the next time we’ll catch it early.” [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Bill Gates thinks that in the next pandemic scenario, vaccine engineering should be much faster. So, considering the high level of suspicion against vaccines… Do you think a shorter vaccine production process would raise even more suspicions? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Naturally, rushing can lead to worse consequences.]( [It shouldn’t. If there's a challenging pandemic ahead, we have no choice but to be faster.]( [It could, but everything gains speed with the developing technology. We better get used to it.]( [I'm really confused about this topic.]( Yesterday’s Results Given the fact that the most complained about tech products in 22 countries are from Apple, we asked if you think it's normal for people to complain this much about Apple products. Surprisingly, 44% of respondents say they don’t use Apple products. On the other hand, 27% say they are quite content with Apple. I don't use Apple products. 44% No, I'm quite content with Apple. 27% Yes, I didn't get the performance I expected either. 17% It depends on the product I'm using. 12% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ The “control of nature” is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology and the convenience of man. ” Rachel Carson in Silent Spring AND ANOTHER THING... - [BA.2 Omicron subvariant]( Here’s what we know about the stealth strain. - Study of over 1 million people reveals [heart attacks can reduce Parkinson's risk](. (ScienceAlert) - [Turning Sahara into a solar farm]( It may not result as good as researchers think. - Oil giant Shell turned an old [gas station into an EV-only charging hub](. (Business Insider) - There may be a lithium treasure beneath the Salton Sea. So, can California become the [Saudi Arabia of lithium]( - [Apple's retail employees]( are reportedly using Android phones and encrypted chats to keep unionization plans secret. 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