A car battery doesn't always explode just when being jump-started or charged. There are cases where they suddenly explode due to the installed position, for example, or as a result of a crash, as has been alleged in the probe leading to the Chevy Volt recall.
In any case, automotive battery explosions can cause severe injury and can even be fatal, depending on where one is standing during the explosion. These explosions present added considerations for adjusters who are tasked not only with processing the resultant claims but also in identifying subrogation opportunities.
Let's first examine the anatomy of a typical automotive battery before delving into cases of catastrophic failure. As shown in Figure 1 below an automotive battery, typically of lead/acid construction, is an electrochemical container that produces voltage, which causes electrical current to flow to various components in an automotive vehicle. An outer polymer case (high density polypropylene) acts as a container for an electrolyte (sulfuric acid), six cells and lead plates. Each cell delivers 2.1 volts, with a total voltage of 12.6 volts, at full charge. Vents are installed at the top of the battery to vent gasses formed during the normal charging cycles.
Recommended For You
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
