The issue with diesel-electric submarines is that they occasionally have to resurface to recharge the batteries (diesel engines need a lot of air). A fully electric submarine can stay submerged the entire way, minimizing the risk of detection.
Also, the exploding batteries thing is mainly an issue with lithium-ion batteries, which are used for their high energy density (both mass and and volume). When you're working with a submarine, energy density isn't as much of a concern as it is with consumer electronics, and alternative battery types can be used.
I don't know how practical of a design a fully electric submarine is though. Maybe it could work for (relatively) short range smuggling missions where you cannot afford to be detected? A fully electric submarine would need a whole lot more batteries than a conventional diesel-electric submarine, so it probably would end up costing a lot more.
They would be trying to balance battery weight/size, and the ability to charge the batteries.
Just imagine that it's 10 stolen Tesla car batteries wired together.
The scary part is if there is only 1 bank of batteries, and no way of charging/forcing the sub to the surface when things go wrong.
The issue with diesel-electric submarines is that they occasionally have to resurface to recharge the batteries (diesel engines need a lot of air). A fully electric submarine can stay submerged the entire way, minimizing the risk of detection.
Also, the exploding batteries thing is mainly an issue with lithium-ion batteries, which are used for their high energy density (both mass and and volume). When you're working with a submarine, energy density isn't as much of a concern as it is with consumer electronics, and alternative battery types can be used.
I don't know how practical of a design a fully electric submarine is though. Maybe it could work for (relatively) short range smuggling missions where you cannot afford to be detected? A fully electric submarine would need a whole lot more batteries than a conventional diesel-electric submarine, so it probably would end up costing a lot more.
They would be trying to balance battery weight/size, and the ability to charge the batteries. Just imagine that it's 10 stolen Tesla car batteries wired together.
The scary part is if there is only 1 bank of batteries, and no way of charging/forcing the sub to the surface when things go wrong.
Right, this is a cartel sub we're talking about.