Energy-dense storage is always inherently energetic, that's the definition of what energy storage is!
Flywheels explode.
Dams burst.
Fuels burst into flame.
Batteries catch fire.
Hydrogen explodes.
The difference is the relative rate. Batteries are very safe! You probably have one in your pocket on a daily basis and you don't stress about it.
Hydrogen needs special handling by professionals using constantly monitored specialised containment vessels or it explodes.
Those "well publicised scandals" you reference? Something like 90% of them are being promulgated by traders with a short position in TSLA. As you can imagine, they're not exactly unbiased.
To quote an actual analysis, not frothing-at-the-mouth ranting from day-traders losing their shirt because Tesla is doing well:
"Regarding the risk of electrochemical failure, [this] report concludes that the propensity and severity of fires and explosions from the accidental ignition of flammable electrolytic solvents used in Li-ion battery systems are anticipated to be somewhat comparable to or perhaps slightly less than those for gasoline or diesel vehicular fuels. The overall consequences for Li-ion batteries are expected to be less because of the much smaller amounts of flammable solvent released and burning in a catastrophic failure situation."
Flywheels explode.
Dams burst.
Fuels burst into flame.
Batteries catch fire.
Hydrogen explodes.
The difference is the relative rate. Batteries are very safe! You probably have one in your pocket on a daily basis and you don't stress about it.
Hydrogen needs special handling by professionals using constantly monitored specialised containment vessels or it explodes.
Those "well publicised scandals" you reference? Something like 90% of them are being promulgated by traders with a short position in TSLA. As you can imagine, they're not exactly unbiased.
To quote an actual analysis, not frothing-at-the-mouth ranting from day-traders losing their shirt because Tesla is doing well:
"Regarding the risk of electrochemical failure, [this] report concludes that the propensity and severity of fires and explosions from the accidental ignition of flammable electrolytic solvents used in Li-ion battery systems are anticipated to be somewhat comparable to or perhaps slightly less than those for gasoline or diesel vehicular fuels. The overall consequences for Li-ion batteries are expected to be less because of the much smaller amounts of flammable solvent released and burning in a catastrophic failure situation."
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicle_fire_...
I'm not saying batteries are safer than liquid fuels, by the way, because both are much safer than hydrogen.