Expert Warns Water Cannot Extinguish EV Battery Fires
As demand increases for electric and hybrid vehicles among Trinidad and Tobago consumers, first responders face one unique safety challenge.
At the T&T Chamber’s first EV and Hybrid Conference and Exhibition, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Division Director Chris Angerer said EV and hybrid vehicle fires are the issue.
“The very first question is, can you put out a battery fire, a lithium-ion battery fire, in these vehicles? And the answer is maybe, because today, we as firefighters have always used water, foam, other technologies to put out fires, and I am going to tell you right now water in and of itself will not put out one of these fires.”
He emphasised that water will not extinguish a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery.
“They told him just submerge this vehicle in water, and you’ll put the fire out. They literally submerged the entire vehicle, and it continued to burn underwater. And so, this is where this happens: when the cathode begins to break down, it releases heat and bound oxygen. That oxygen then can support combustion even underwater.”
One possible solution, according to Mr. Angerer, is to allow the fire to burn out. He suggested utilising a fire blanket to control the blaze.
