Thermal Runaway Explains Why Waymo Cars Burned So Completely in the Recent Los Angeles Protests During recent protests in Los Angeles, fires triggered “thermal runaway” in several Waymo robotaxis’ lithium-ion battery packs. The phenomenon sent temperatures past 1,000 degrees Celsius, vaporized much of the cars and spewed lung-searing hydrogen fluoride By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser A Waymo vehicle burns in the middle of an intersection during protests in Los Angeles, Calif.,...