The recommendations emerged from a major piece of research done for ABCB by EV FireSafe, a private company that receives seed funding from the Australian Department of Defence to research EV high voltage battery fires and emergency responses to those fires.
Rake did say that an EV fire is different from a conventional car fire and for that reason the ABCB was working with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council to “Make sure we are all preparing for this adaption”.
Although statistics show conventionally powered cars are far more likely to catch fire than EVs, EV fires can be far more toxic and less predictable and firefighters are rightly concerned about the risks posed to first responders.
It wants fire authorities to be consulted during the planning and design phase for the implementation of EV charging equipment and the introduction of EVs within the built environment.
Adequacy of space left between cars to prevent fire spreading because of the directional flames that jet in EV fires.
The types of special hazards linked to EV fires include the potential for the fire to damage the structural integrity of a building, the potential of fire to expose high voltage DC and AC electricity and the production of toxic and combustible vapour that existing air systems will likely not be able to cope with, and which could lead to explosions.
EV FireSafe research has verified there were 393 EV battery fires around the world between 2010 and mid this year.
Wow, I’m actually surprised the number is that low. From the media I had the impression that they were way higher. And that’s from the perspective of someone who has been highly sceptical about most of the criticism levied towards EVs (side note: that’s sceptical of the criticism comparing them to ICE vehicles—I’m very on board with the argument that they’re a bandaid solution to the gaping wound that is car-dependency). I knew that they weren’t nearly as dangerous as ICE-fans would have you believe, but still assumed it’d be on the order of a couple hundred globally per year.
Reports out of the US show that staggering amounts of water are needed to extinguish some EV fires. In one case, unconnected lithium-ion batteries stored in a warehouse caught fire and exploded in a conflagration that took 300 firefighters and 28 tonnes of cement to extinguish.
I believe that there are already solutions that exist/are being worked on to help with this, such as big containers to essentially drown the car, rather than huge amounts of water being wasted by being blasted against the car briefly and then flowing off.
the problem is not so much cars but with electric micro mobility vehicles
The article sort of touches on this, but doesn’t go far enough IMO. It’s super important for people buying PMDs to buy high quality. Don’t get a cheap Chinese knock-off scooter. Buy a good ebike with a Shimano motor (because anyone using a good motor from a reliable company is likely also using quality batteries).
Thanks for sharing. This was a really good article about some important issues. Though I must confess to being disappointed because from the title I was expecting a completely different angle. Because we are ignoring inconvenient truths, like the fact that car-dependency is so bad for our economy, health, society, and the environment, all in ways that have nothing at all to do with the way that they are fuelled. Ah well, there’s plenty of media out there on that topic.
because anyone using a good motor from a reliable company is likely also using quality batteries
You do need to be careful about battery quality and handling. I only felt comfortable when I knew (and verified by pulling it apart) what cells were in the battery, as well as the BMS capabilities and construction by a reputable company.
Always monitor charging, and charge and store in a safe place where a fire is manageable.
You can find horror stories, eg on Endless Sphere about very experienced people losing their bikes, garages, homes and even worse.
Be careful out there, people.
