Semantics. Is a battery undergoing thermal runaway/venting "exploding"? Or merely "ejecting scorching hot gas and catching fire?" Maybe it's not blowing up like an IED, but either way I don't want it happening in my garage.
> Even new pouch cells are way safer than they used to be.
Right, because these packs filled with recycled cells are going to have the latest protections.
> Unregulated 18650 cells are quite safe if the correct circuitry is used.
Which is my whole point, I'm not sure I trust the guy down the street to correctly wire and have adequate circuit protection for his DIY battery pack in his garage.
> The only dependable way to ignite them is to smash completely open them at full charge.