TREEHUGGERS IN "DEATH TRAPS" AS E-CARS ARE RECALLED

Major signalling fire.

One of the best ways to signal how "green" and "in touch with the planet" you are is to get an e-car, even though you are thereby supporting toxic mining and child-slavery practices.

As they are expensive, it is also a subtle way to let people know how loaded you are. Prices start at $74,800.

But now it seems that being a "well-healed greenfag" has its risks as well, after it was revealed that luxury German carmaker Audi has now recalled its first all-electric vehicle due to the risk of deadly battery fires, which would also release vile, toxic fumes into the all-important environment.

As reported by a politely-worded article in Fortune magazine:

The company issued a voluntary recall of approximately 540 E-Tron SUV models sold in the U.S. because of a risk that moisture can seep into the battery cell through a wiring harness glitch, spokesman Mark Dahncke said. The company isn’t aware of any fires or injuries because of the flaw, which affects a total of 1,644 models, he said.

Yeh, not yet anyway, or maybe someone just conveniently mislaid all the death reports. 

The E-Tron, which went on sale in the U.S. in April, is Audi’s first fully-electric car and one in a wave of contenders from traditional automakers looking to challenge Tesla Inc.’s dominance of the segment. While electric vehicles are no more prone to accidents or fires than gasoline-powered cars — and might be less so, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — the lithium-ion battery technology that powers them is still evolving, and there is no consensus on safe system design.

Even more ironic, Audi is now providing its e-car owners with gas-guzzlers and $800 dollars in free gas, while the e-cars are fixed:

Audi said it’s offering E-Tron owners loaner vehicles and an $800 cash card to cover gas or incidentals during the recall period, as well as free roadside assistance.

Really, I would have thought providing sedan chairs would have  been more environmentally friendly. 

We have the technology to make this happen.

I guess Audi just don't give a toss about the environment after all.

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