In incidents involving electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, responders face safety risks related to:
Electric shock.
Thermal runaway.
Battery ignition and reignition.
Stranded energy.
Electric vehicle design is different for various makes and models. For safe and effective vehicle extrication, rescue and fire suppression, responders need practical and accurate emergency response guidance specific to the unique features of each electric vehicle.
In a 2020 report, Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles PDF, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended improvements to electric vehicle emergency response guides (ERGs), including compliance with the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO’s) Standard 17840: Road Vehicles — Information for First and Second Responders.
ERGs that comply with…