A New Set of Common Sense that You Should Know! Fire Prevention and Response for Electric Vehicles
The market share of electric vehicles keeps increasing, and many people who want to buy or replace their vehicles are putting electric vehicles as their first choice, making electric vehicles an important choice for modern transportation. However, the safety of lithium batteries, the most important part of the vehicle, has not been emphasized. Although the current statistics show that the frequency of EV fires is lower than that of conventional fuel vehicles, once a fire occurs, the high temperatures and toxic gases generated by lithium battery combustion will make it much more difficult to extinguish the fire. In this article, we will discuss in detail the precautionary measures for EV battery combustion and emergency response methods, from daily use safety to fire management, providing EV owners with comprehensive safety knowledge.
What everyone should know about lithium batteries in electric vehicles
Understanding the thermal runaway mechanism of lithium batteries
The most common cause of spontaneous combustion in electric vehicles is the occurrence of “thermal runaway” in lithium batteries. Thermal runaway refers to a rapid increase in the internal temperature of the battery, which leads to a series of irreversible chemical reactions and ultimately causes uncontrollable high temperature, rapid combustion and even explosion. When a lithium battery enters thermal runaway, the internal temperature may rapidly exceed hundreds of degrees and release a large amount of flammable gases, which will ignite when exposed to oxygen, creating a violent fire. Once thermal runaway begins, it is usually difficult to fully control in a short period of time, which is why electric vehicle fires often take a long time to extinguish the main reason.
Battery thermal runaway can be caused by a variety of factors, including manufacturing defects, physical damage, extreme temperature conditions, overcharging or discharging, and battery aging. Understanding these risk factors is important, especially for EV owners who use their vehicles on a daily basis. Understanding the basic characteristics of the battery will help with proper use and maintenance.
Lithium Ion Battery Use and Maintenance
Proper use and maintenance practices are the first line of defense against EV battery fires. First of all, avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures, especially in high-temperature environments such as parking lots under direct sunlight in the summer. High temperatures accelerate battery aging and increase the risk of thermal runaway, so parking in the shade as much as possible is a simple but effective preventive measure.
For charging, use factory-certified charging equipment and follow the manufacturer's recommended charging guidelines. Overcharging or using incompatible chargers may cause the battery to overheat or overload the circuit, increasing the risk of fire. At the same time, you should avoid using your vehicle with an extremely low battery, as deep discharging can cause irreversible damage to the battery, accelerating battery degradation and increasing safety risks.
Regular professional inspection and maintenance is also the key to prevent battery problems. After an electric vehicle has been in use for a period of time, a professional technician should check the health of the battery system, including the battery module, cooling system and circuit connections. Early detection and resolution of potential problems can effectively reduce the risk of fire, while extending battery life, which is not only related to safety, but also directly related to the long-term economy of the vehicle.
Recognizing Battery Abnormal Alarms
Another important part of preventing battery fires is recognizing abnormal alarms in a timely manner. While each EV model may be different, there are certain common signals that all EV owners should be aware of. These include unusual sounds or odors when the vehicle is not in use, abnormally high battery temperatures, and battery warning messages on the vehicle's display system.
When a battery begins to fail, the vehicle will usually warn you through the dashboard. If you notice unusually slow or fast battery charging, a sudden and dramatic drop in range, or unusual sounds and odors during charging, stop using the vehicle immediately and contact a service professional. These early signals are often the precursors of more serious problems, and timely treatment can avoid subsequent safety hazards.
A sudden deterioration in vehicle performance or unexplained power limitations during daily driving may also be a sign of battery system problems. At this time, you should avoid continuing to use the vehicle at high intensity, such as long-distance travel or high-speed driving, so as not to exacerbate potential battery problems. Remember, sensitivity and quick response to abnormal signals is the key to avoiding serious safety incidents.
Emergency Response in the Early Stages of a Fire
When an EV battery fire starts, the first priority is to ensure the safety of the occupants and to notify a professional rescuer quickly. Regardless of the size of the fire, immediately evacuate the vehicle and the surrounding area, keeping a safe distance because lithium battery fires can suddenly explode or produce toxic gases. When evacuating, you should stand at the windward side to avoid inhaling the toxic smoke, and remember not to stand at the front of the vehicle to prevent the electric vehicle from sudden surge due to system failure, which may cause secondary accidents.
Under the premise of ensuring your own safety, if the fire is still in the early stage and suitable fire extinguishing equipment is available, you can try to carry out initial control. For small lithium battery equipment (e.g. cell phone, mobile power), you can use dry powder extinguishers to put out the fire, or soak it in a bucket of water, the latter of which is usually more effective. However, for large lithium battery fires such as electric cars, it is often difficult to control the fire with ordinary fire extinguishers. The most important thing to do is to dial 119 immediately to notify the fire department of the electric car fire so that they can prepare professional equipment.
EV battery fires are fundamentally different from traditional fuel vehicle fires in that the thermal runaway reaction can last for hours, and even if the fire appears to be under control on the surface, it may continue to burn internally.1 Therefore, non-professionals should not underestimate the dangers of EV fires, nor should they be overconfident in their attempts to extinguish them completely, and should always prioritize personal safety.
Professional Fire Fighting Methods and Equipment
The main strategy used by fire professionals in dealing with EV fires is to continuously cool the battery with large amounts of water to stop the thermal runaway from spreading further. This method requires a long period of time and a large amount of water resources. The fire brigade will usually use high-pressure water cannons or water spray systems to continuously flood the vehicle to ensure that the temperature of the battery drops rapidly. The fire-fighting process can last for more than four hours until the battery is completely cooled down to a stable state, based on the principle of allowing water to reach the center of the battery directly.
In recent years, the Fire Services Department (FSD) has developed a variety of new equipment specifically designed to deal with EV fires. For example, the Fire Services Department (FSD) has demonstrated five new fire-fighting tools, including emergency plugs, high-pressure aerosol hose pens, electric vehicle fire extinguishing blankets, battery fire extinguishing systems and temporary pools. Among them, the battery fire extinguishing system through the high-pressure pneumatic needle piercing the battery shell on the bottom of the vehicle, directly and efficiently injected water to quickly reduce the battery temperature, solving the traditional method of time-consuming and water-consuming problems.
Another effective fire extinguishing method is to use a professional fire blanket, which can cover the entire vehicle, preventing the spread of smoke and controlling the fire by using asphyxiation. Modern fire blankets are designed to withstand temperatures up to 550 degrees Celsius, are lightweight (about 45 kilograms), are 11 meters long and 8 meters wide, are large enough to cover an electric van, and are easy to operate, requiring only two firefighters to complete the coverage. This method is particularly suitable for use in scenes where large quantities of water are not immediately available.
Measures to Prevent Reignition in Battery Fires
A key feature of lithium battery fires is that even when the fire appears to be out, the interior may continue to burn and cause rekindling. This is because the electrolyte and materials in lithium batteries are prone to re-ignite at high temperatures, creating a potential hazard. Therefore, even if the initial fire is successfully extinguished, it is important to maintain continuous monitoring of the vehicle and cool it down periodically to prevent reignition.
For EV fires that have already been treated, professionals will adopt the “immersion method”, whereby the entire vehicle or the battery module is immersed in water to thoroughly cool the battery and prevent the recurrence of fire. The “temporary pool” displayed by the FSD is designed for this purpose. It consists of flood prevention baffles that can be quickly assembled to cool down a burning EV by immersion in water. This method, although complicated, is effective in dealing with serious battery fires, especially when the main fire has been brought under control but there is a fear of re-ignition.
Professional firefighting teams will usually continue to monitor battery temperatures for at least 24 hours after the fire has been extinguished to ensure that all possible hot spots have cooled completely. In some cases, they may use heat-sensing cameras to monitor the battery temperature to ensure that there are no localized areas of abnormally high temperatures. This caution reflects the complexity of EV fires and the importance of preventing reignition throughout the firefighting process.
Environmental and Health Impacts of EV Fires
Toxic Gas and Environmental Pollution Problems
EV battery fires are not only a safety hazard, they also pose serious environmental and health problems. When a lithium battery burns out of control, it produces a large amount of toxic gases, including hydrofluoric acid, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide, which can cause serious harm to the respiratory system or skin. Prolonged exposure to these toxic fumes can lead to acute respiratory damage, eye and skin irritation, and in severe cases, even death.
In addition to the immediate health threat, the chemicals produced by EV fires also pollute the environment. The large amount of water used in the fire-fighting process may carry dissolved battery materials and combustion by-products into the water system, contaminating soil and water sources. These pollutants may include heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese, which are difficult to degrade in the environment and may have long-term effects on the ecosystem.
Therefore, professional EV fire management is not only concerned with firefighting itself, but also with environmental protection measures, such as controlling and collecting contaminated firefighting water to prevent it from flowing into natural water bodies. In some countries and regions, specific protocols for handling EV fires have begun to be developed, including guidelines on how to minimize the environmental impact. This reflects the growing concern for safety and environmental protection throughout the life cycle of electric vehicles as they become more popular.
The Importance of Preventive Measures to Reduce Risk
Considering the serious consequences of EV fires, the importance of preventive measures cannot be overstated. Prevention should be considered throughout the entire process of design, manufacture, use and disposal. For manufacturers, continuous improvement of battery safety design, such as strengthening the battery insulation layer, optimizing the cooling system and developing safer battery materials, is a fundamental way to reduce the risk of fire.
For individual users, in addition to the precautions mentioned above, they should also pay attention to regular maintenance and repair of their vehicles. In particular, the health of the EV's cooling system and battery management system (BMS) is critical to prevent overheating and thermal runaway. Users should strictly follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines and refrain from unauthorized modifications or repairs to the high-voltage battery system to avoid increasing safety risks.
In addition, raising public awareness of EV safety is also an important part of risk reduction. Vehicle owners should understand basic EV safety knowledge, including recognizing abnormal signals, initial fire handling and self-rescue measures in emergencies. At the same time, public places such as parking lots and charging stations should be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and safety signs, and regular safety inspections and drills should be conducted to prepare for possible fires.
Conclusion
Electric vehicles have significant advantages in environmental protection and energy saving, but their unique battery system also brings safety challenges that cannot be ignored. By understanding the principles of EV battery combustion, preventive measures and response strategies, vehicle owners can enjoy the convenience of electric mobility more safely. Prevention is always better than cure, and proper daily use and maintenance is the best way to avoid battery fires.
When faced with an EV fire, ensuring the safety of the occupants is always the first priority. The general public should not attempt to deal with a large-scale EV battery fire, but should quickly evacuate and seek professional assistance. As technology advances and safety standards improve, the safety of electric vehicles is improving, and the development of new fire-fighting equipment provides more effective tools for emergency response.
Ultimately, EV safety is the shared responsibility of manufacturers, users and society. By enhancing safety awareness, improving regulations and standards, and promoting technological innovation, we can enjoy the convenience of green mobility while minimizing safety risks.
