[Sprintey]

Given the tragic death of two young motorists in a Tesla model S in Ft Lauderdale recently, can anyone school me on the difference between lithium battery packs and the nickel based ones ("old tech") of Toyota when in a crash?

I understand the lithium is likely to heat, catch fire when cracked open, then do the same to surrounding battery units, causing an inferno. Firefighters report they are not to intervene.

Will the battery in a Prius or Corolla or Camry be as explosive?