Ship From China Carrying EVs Ablaze and Abandoned, Off Alaskan Isles

China doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to batteries for things like electric cars and scooters. In fact, some of these Chinese lithium batteries have an unpleasant tendency to become explodey. Granted, this is a problem with batteries like this in general, but China’s quality control standards in general are, shall we say, not the greatest. From steel to batteries, China just doesn’t quite measure up.

Case in point: Now a ship carrying 3,000 cars from China to Mexico, 800 of them electric vehicles, is off the coast of Alaska, abandoned, burning, and spewing toxic smoke. How “green” is that?

The crew of a cargo ship carrying 3,000 vehicles to Mexico, including 800 electric vehicles, abandoned ship after they could not control a fire aboard the vessel in waters off Alaska’s Aleutian island chain.

A large plume of smoke was initially seen at the ship’s stern coming from the deck loaded with electric vehicles Tuesday, according to U.S. Coast Guard photos and a Wednesday statement from the ship’s management company, London-based Zodiac Maritime.

There were no reported injuries among the 22 crew members of the Morning Midas.