Electric vehicles have increased steadily in popularity over the past few years in the United States. As more electric vehicles populate roads in and around Philadelphia, emergency response personnel have begun to adjust to the challenges presented by these types of vehicles.
As it stands, there is little guidance provided by state and federal emergency services on how to best approach circumstances involving electric vehicle accidents, fires, and other emergency scenarios.
Electric Vehicle Batteries Present Unique Challenges For Emergency Responders
Battery technology for electric vehicles is evolving quickly. When an electric vehicle catches on fire, emergency personnel are not able to safely extinguish the fire using the same methods as with a non-electric vehicle. Vehicle fires can occur as a result of a range of different causes, including manufacturing problems, vehicle crashes, and a host of other reasons.
Different brands of electric vehicles, different batteries, and even the model year of the vehicle can change how emergency personnel respond to a fire. This impacts how emergency personnel are able to respond to a fire. The diversity in battery types, locations, technology, and more contributes to the challenges of responding to fires.
Best Practices Regarding Emergency Medical Services And Firefighting
When emergency medical services (EMS) approach an electric vehicle after an accident, it is considered best practice to remove the patient from the vehicle as quickly as possible. Electric vehicles damaged in a crash often experience a battery failure, which can impact additional emergency steps that need to be taken.
Additional emergencies may include firefighting. Extinguishing an electric vehicle fire currently has no best practices associated with this process. Water is typically used to put out electric vehicle fires, though the quantity of water needed exceeds that of internal combustion engine vehicles.
What Is Especially Dangerous About Electric Vehicle Batteries After An Accident?
Electric vehicle batteries release hydrogen gas when on fire. Hydrogen gas is both lighter than air and explosive. In a fire, hydrogen gas can build up in the immediate area. This is especially concerning when the vehicle is in an enclosed space such as a garage.
Although hydrogen gas is not released in a fire, there is a substantial amount of heat that is produced. This heat production can create flammable and potentially toxic gases in the area of the vehicle.
Challenges Associated With Extracting An Individual From An Electric Vehicle
Finally, electric vehicles have a unique construction that impacts how emergency personnel may extract an individual in an emergency scenario. Emergency personnel must be aware of various locations on electric vehicles where pressure and cutting are not advisable.
It should also come as no surprise that with an electric vehicle, it must be presumed by emergency personnel that high-voltage systems are charged and powered up. These systems must be disabled prior to beginning certain emergency procedures.
