What First Responders Don’t Know About Fiery Electric Vehicles

I

interestedinEV

Well-Known Member
What First Responders Don’t Know About Fiery Electric Vehicles

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...t-first-responders-don-t-know-about-fiery-evs

Timely article and is not specific to Tesla (though a Tesla crash caused the discussion). EV fires have to be dealt with differently but there is no evidence that the EVs are more prone to fires than ICEs'. The technology has to still evolve with this in mind. Please keep this in mind if you are in a situation that you need help.

Lithium ion batteries burn differently from ICEs and first responders need to respond differently.

After an out-of-control Tesla Model S plowed into a stand of palm trees on a highway median outside Fort Lauderdale last month, police rushed to put out the ensuing blaze using a department-issued fire extinguisher. It was a wasted effort. The car kept on burning after the crash, which killed the driver.

The police may not have known lithium-ion batteries inside electric vehicles, once ignited, can’t be put out with chemicals from a conventional extinguisher. The battery fires are susceptible to a self-destructive chain reaction known as thermal runaway, causing a feedback loop of rising temperatures. The Tesla fire stumped a series of first responders in Florida. Firefighters eventually doused the flames with water, which seemed to work, but the wrecked car reignited twice more after being towed away. ...

The accident illustrates the challenges faced by first responders unfamiliar with the special characteristics—and hazards—of electric vehicles’ powertrains. Safety experts say the only way to extinguish a lithium-ion battery inside a car is with thousands of gallons of water, much more than what it takes to stop a fire in a typical gasoline engine.
Click to expand...

NTSB is working on recommendations to deal with these types of fires. With the increase in EV's, this will need more attention.
 
I think we've had this discussion before, but here some points I think so be repeated.
1. Encourage your state to issue EV vehicle license plates.
2. Encourage your state, local governments and vehicle manufactures to fund training for first responders.
3. Encourage or perhaps legislate that the electrical disconnect locations are at least some what accessible and marked if the vehicle needs cutting to disconnect. You should see where the disconnect on my Sonata Plug-in in located. It's not a good location.
 
And if I may add, when you buy a EV, you know where the disconnect is and that you should be able to tell first responder's the basics, in case you ever need them. If they already know it, great, else by you knowing it, you are helping them help you or others.
 
Really? The decade old Bolt huh Bloomberg...
"The NFPA began conducting training and creating reference manuals about a decade ago just as the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf were about to debut. It has worked closely since then with General Motors Co. and other automakers to educate first responders about what wires to avoid, where critical components are located under the hood, and how to control battery fires."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top