Lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries, used in most electric vehicle battery packs, are notorious for being flammable. Once they catch fire, it takes significant efforts and methods to extinguish it. This is why when fire risk issues are discovered on EVs, automakers are quick to recall it to fix or replace it, with BMW recently experiencing this problem.

Several terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach canceled their second shift Thursday and will close Friday after a big rig overturned on a vital roadway and the lithium batteries it was carrying caught fire.

The Port of Los Angeles shuttered several terminals because of the fire, which was expected to burn for up to 48 hours. Part of a highway was closed where the truck had overturned.