Dave Butler from Wigan in North West England recently took delivery of his brand new Volvo XC40 mild hybrid after a six month wait.
During a car trip with wife Anne and 19-month-old granddaughter Lilly, an explosive fire broke out in the car.
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One-year-old stuck in the car
Dave suffered severe burns when he ventured into the inferno to save little Lilly, as Carup has reported. He has told about the incident on Facebook.
“When I saw the smoke I tried to open the back door but it wouldn’t open,” writes Dave.
He then got into the car to save the grandson, but could not see anything as the car was filled with smoke in just a few seconds.
Fortunately, Dave was able to feel his way to the buckle on the car seat and get Lilly out of the car.
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The car was filled with flames
While Dave was inside the car, he writes that “the hybrid battery exploded and ignited the gas tank”, whereupon the car was filled with flames. The hybrid battery is located at the back of the car near the gas tank.
Dave managed to get out, but had caught fire.
Following the incident, Dave Bulter is being treated in hospital for 60 per cent burns, while Lilly appears to have escaped lightly and is being treated at a children’s hospital.
“So if you still think electric cars are safe, think again,” concludes Dave in his Facebook post.
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Cause of fire not confirmed
The car in question is, as I said, a brand new Volvo XC40 mild hybrid, which simply explained is a petrol car with a small electric motor that helps in those situations when the petrol engine is at its weakest.
The electric motor is powered by a small 48-volt hybrid battery.
Although Dave Butler believes that the source of the fire was the hybrid battery, this has not been confirmed, and Volvo will now find out the source of the fire.
– We are aware of a vehicle fire that occurred on Monday 15 July in Great Britain and which involved a Volvo XC40 petrol-mild hybrid. The driver and passengers have sustained injuries for which they are being treated. Safety is the highest priority for Volvo Cars and we take this incident very seriously. We have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and have been in contact with the family to offer our support while the investigation is ongoing, says the press department at Volvo to Carup.
The Volvo XC40 is one of the most popular car models on the Swedish market.
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