Electric vehicles pose risks to emergency services
In a crisis, first responders rely on their experience and training to deal with dangerous situations safely. As the world moves toward a future in which electric vehicles are mainstream, these men and women require new skills to deal with unfamiliar electrical and mechanical systems.
The risk of untrained individuals interacting with the high voltage of an electric vehicle fire is a terrifying proposition. In the event of a road accident, would the average lifeguard know how to safely turn off the car battery power? How about a garage fire where an electric vehicle is being charged? potentially with 220 volts?
Tea National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is well aware that electric vehicles pose a threat to untrained response teams, repair crews, and passengers. The agency recently released a report titled “Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles.”
The extensive report includes several case studies and includes a section entitled “Guidance for Emergency Responders”.
This guide includes:
Easy to understand battery disconnection procedures
Teams need access to understand how to disconnect the battery for specific vehicles.
Fire fighting methods
The NTSB recommends using large amounts of water to extinguish fires and cool batteries.
The risk of thermal runaway and re-ignition
Emergency and repair teams must take steps to mitigate re-ignition events, which can occur weeks after battery damage occurred.
Procedures for Releasing Stranded Power in Damaged Batteries
Those involved in the recovery, repair and storage of damaged electric vehicles must deal with the energy stored in batteries, particularly if external circuits and wiring are mutilated or shorted.
Format of emergency response guides
The emergency guides are in a standard format, so first responders can find the necessary information quickly, with a minimum of searching.
Improved orientation and information sharing
Vehicle manufacturers need to improve their safety guides and manuals, so fire and repair crews have a deeper understanding of the proper repair and storage of damaged electric vehicles.
Fire and emergency crews have decades of experience working on paralyzed vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. Best practices for working safely around wrecked gasoline cars and trucks are well established.
Many of these ingrained methods do not apply to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles require completely different measures in the event of an accident, fire or flood. Even highly experienced first responders will need training in the proper methods for operating electric vehicles in an emergency. Failure to understand the complexities of high-voltage mechanisms could spell disaster for them, their crews, and bystanders.
×