Electrical Vehicle Safety Training

Responding to incidents involving a Chevrolet Volt

Fire Engineering Magazine recently published an article with participation by members of our EV safety training staff which provides an overview of the Chevy Volt, its systems, and emergency response procedures. The piece features relevant and useful information about key characteristics to identify a Volt; the vehicle’s construction - including the electrical system, high-voltage battery and occupant protection systems; and a step-by-step guide for responders. 

It also emphasizes that first responders must ensure that they understand the technology and operation behind EVs and HEVs to ensure overall safety for all parties involved.  We highlighted the specifics of the Chevy Volt in a vehicle profile on our blog earlier this year, but this article provides additional insight regarding the new technologies.

As part of NFPA’s mission to provide the latest information regarding electric vehicles to first responders, we would like to highlight key details noted in this article regarding the appropriate response procedure for a Chevy Volt. Similar information can be found on our website’s vehicle manufacturer resource page and will be included in our soon to be released “Electric Vehicle Emergency Field Guide”:

• Identifying the types of vehicles in a crash is essential. It is more critical than ever for responders to identify the types of vehicles involved in a crash. As green technology and alternative fueled vehicles become more popular, responders should not immediately assume that they are working with conventional vehicles at a crash scene..
• Securing vehicle from potential movement should be priority. Responders should control potential hazards by chocking the wheels, accessing the passenger compartment to set the parking brake, placing the vehicle in park, and shutting down the high voltage system. Specifically, in the case of a Volt follow this two-step process:
  • Shut the vehicle downby pressing the power button (found just above the gear selector).   If possible then remove the proximity keys from the vehicle.Then, disable the  12v electrical system by using the special cut location provided in the rear of the vehicle. In the rear hatchback, an access panel is found on the driver's sidewall of the cargo area. This access panel displays a logo of a firefighter's helmet to indicate its purpose. Behind the access panel is a bundle of wires in a black wrap with GM's "first responder yellow cut tape" attached to it. Make two cuts, one on either side of the yellow cut tape.
• Extrication operations: Although high voltage cabling and components are not generally found in typical cut points, it is important to inspect the area that is being cut to confirm this.  . During extrication, it is important for responders to keep in mind that the Volt is comprised of approximately 80 percent high-strength steel. In order to respond effectively, responders should be aware of their rescue tools' ability to cut through these materials. Also noted in the article are back-up methods for responders in the case their tools are not capable of cutting high-strength steels.
• Vehicle fires and submersions. Traditional firefighting equipment is acceptable to extinguish a Volt that is on fire and water application does not create a shock hazard. In addition, responders can safely operate around a submerged Volt in the same manner as a conventional vehicle or a hybrid.

Stay Safe,

Jason

Vehicle Profile: Chevrolet Volt

Today we are going to take a quick look at the first Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) on the market, the Chevrolet Volt.  It was first released in the fall of 2010 in select markets, and went nationwide in 2011. 

From the exterior, the vehicle can be primarily identified by the “Volt” badging on the front fenders and on the liftgate.  Additionally, the door for the charging port is located on the driver’s side front fender underneath the Volt logo.  The interior features digital display screens which also provide clues such as the battery state of charge indictor.

The Volt is constructed of nearly 80% high and ultra-high strength steel with the vehicle essentially built around the six foot, 400 pound, liquid cooled, 360 volt lithium ion battery that runs down the center of the vehicle and under the rear seats.  In addition to the high voltage battery, there is an engine generator under the hood that is designed to generate electricity to power the drive motors when the battery becomes depleted.  The average range on the fully charged battery is 25-50 miles with an additional 344 miles provided by the engine generator running off the 9.3 gallon gasoline supply.  The Volt battery can be recharged using a level I or II charging station.

Since this vehicle has both a high voltage electrical system as well as a gasoline powered generator onboard, first responders should treat this vehicle as you would a hybrid and be sure to control both energy sources.

For a more in depth look at this vehicle and its emergency response procedures be sure to take our Volt safety training course.

Stay Safe,

Jason

 

NHTSA concludes Chevy Volt investigation; releases interim guidance

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statement concluding its safety defect investigation into the post-crash fire risk of Chevy Volts. The statement said in part, "Opened on November 25, the agency’s investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts."
 
The statement further stated, "NHTSA remains unaware of any real-world crashes that have resulted in a battery-related fire involving the Chevy Volt or any other electric vehicle. NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles show great promise as a safe and fuel-efficient option for American drivers. However, as the reports released in conjunction with the closure of the investigation today indicate , fires following NHTSA crash tests of the vehicle and its battery components—and the innovative nature of this emerging technology—led the agency to take the unusual step of opening a safety defect investigation in the absence of data from real-world incidents.
 
NHTSA has developed interim guidance—with the assistance of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Department of Energy, and others—to increase awareness and identify appropriate safety measures for these groups. The agency expects this guidance will help inform the ongoing work by NFPA, DOE, and vehicle manufacturers to educate the emergency response community, law enforcement officers, and others about electric vehicles."

The interim guidance is directed towards consumers, the emergency response community, and tow truck operators and storage facilities. In addition to audience specific information, the guidance contains the several considerations for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped with High Voltage (HV) Batteries:

ELECTRIC AND HYBRID-ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONSIDERATIONS

In the event of damage to or fire involving an Electric (EV) or Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV): 

• Always assume the High Voltage (HV) battery and associated components are energized and fully charged.

• Exposed electrical components, wires or HV batteries present a potential HV shock hazard.

• Venting / Off-gassing HV battery vapors are potentially toxic and flammable.

• Physical damage to the vehicle or HV battery may result in an immediate or delayed release of toxic and/or flammable gases and an immediate or delayed fire.

NFPA provided assistance and expertise to NHTSA as it developed its interim guidance. Our input was based on our experience in developing the Electric Vehicle Safety Training program and our extensive knowledge in providing guidance to first responders on various hazardous materials and response.

NFPA, through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, developed a safety training program to help first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The training is based on extensive research and findings from the Fire Protection Research Foundation and others including focus groups with the fire service throughout the country.

NFPA training contains best practices based on the latest information for how first responders should deal with crashes involving electric and hybrid-electric cars.

As with any new technology, information continues to be learned. NFPA will continually update its  training to reflect any new information that has been learned from the NHTSA work and any other information that becomes available.

For additional information on the Volt investigation and others, visit www.SaferCar.gov. For additional information on NFPA's EV Safety Training program visit www.evsafetytraining.org.

 

GM announces enhancements to the Chevy Volt

NHTSA makes statement in response

General Motors today announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt that would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash.

The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance. 

NHTSA opened its Preliminary Evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later. The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later.  

According to the GM press release, modifications will:

• Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt’s vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision.
• Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels.
• Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill.

GM conducted four successful crash tests between Dec. 9 and 21 of Volts with the structural enhancement. The enhancement performed as intended. There was no intrusion into the battery pack and no coolant leakage in any of the tests.

NHSTA issued a statement regarding the GM action saying the agency has not concluded that investigation and is continuing to gather and assess information on the post-crash fire risk in these vehicles.

The statement further said, "Based on the work that NHTSA has already completed — under the observation of representatives of General Motors and in close consultation and collaboration with experts from the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense — it appears that both battery intrusion and coolant leakage must be present to enable post-crash fire in the Volt. While the agency remains unaware of any fires from real-world crashes involving the Volt, each of the known cases of fire resulting from laboratory crash tests included these conditions.

NHTSA crashed a Chevy Volt retrofitted with GM’s newly designed steel reinforcement device in a side-pole impact test on December 22. The results of that crash test showed no intrusion into the vehicle’s battery compartment, and no coolant leakage was apparent. As a precaution, NHTSA has monitored the crashed vehicle since the test and will continue to do so for one more week. However, the preliminary results of the crash test indicate the remedy proposed by General Motors today should address the issue of battery intrusion.

In the coming weeks, NHTSA will complete the analysis of the overall research undertaken since the initial fire incident in June. The agency will make public its conclusions and any corresponding implications for consumers, the emergency response community, and tow truck operators and storage facility managers upon closure of the safety defect investigation."

NFPA continues to stay up to date on any new developments from auto manufacturers and government agencies in order to share the latest information through our EV Safety Training project.  NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training project is a nationwide program to help firefighters and other first responders  effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric vehicles.For more information on training and other resources visit http://evsafetytraining.org

NHTSA announces additional electric vehicle safety information

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced further action to assess the risk of fire in Chevy Volts that have been involved in serious crashes. The recent crash tests from NHTSA involving the Chevrolet Volt indicate that additional steps may be required to disable a damaged battery after a crash.

In the NHTSA crash tests, fires occurred days or weeks after the battery had been severely damaged and left charged. GM has said that in the event of an actual crash that damages the battery they will send out a team of experts to properly drain the battery and mitigate the possibility of a fire. GM President of North America Mark Reuss issued a letter to Volt owners outlining the steps they are taking with regards to the investigation.

NFPA's EV Safety Training Project’s focus is to give first responders the information they need to address the immediate safety issues that can arise in crashes or other emergency situations involving electric vehicles. While the information gathered by NHTSA and GM as part of this investigation likely will be used primarily by second responders, NFPA will continue to stay up to date on any new developments and share information as part of our training as it becomes available.

As noted in its press release this week, NHTSA has indicated that there is “no additional risk for an electric vehicle than a traditional gas-powered vehicle” and that “Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern.”

NHTSA continues to urge emergency responders to take the following precautions—all of which are covered in our training course—in the event of a crash involving any electric vehicle:

• Emergency responders should check a vehicle for markings or other indications that it is electric-powered. If it is, they should exercise caution, per published guidelines, to avoid any possible electrical shock and should disconnect the battery from the vehicle circuits if possible.
• Emergency responders should also use copious amounts of water if fire is present or suspected and keeping in mind that fire can occur for a considerable period after a crash should proceed accordingly.

For more information about our project, visit http://evsafetytraining.org.

EVs dominate the LA Auto Show

Los Angeles Mayor Anotonio Villaraigosa with the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas which has been named 2012 Green Car of the Year at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show. (Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times / November 7, 2011)

Premiering this week, the LA Auto Show, the first North American auto show of the season, will set the tone for the rest of the year. And while green cars often make an appearance at the LA show, catering to California’s eco-friendly drivers, this year there are more than 70 alternative fuel and high-efficiency vehicles on display.

Of those vehicles, five are in the running for the Green Car of the Year award. Nominated by Green Car Journal editors, the finalists included the Ford Focus Electric, the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the Mitsubishi I, the Toyota Prius V, and the Volkswagon Passat TDI. On Thursday morning, the Civic took home the prize, joining last year’s winner, the Chevrolet Volt.

The five finalists represent multiple types of alternative fuels: electricity, natural gas, gas-electric hybrids, and diesel fuel. “This year’s Green Car of the Year finalists underscore that there is no single solution to our transportation challenges,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com, in a written statement. 

This myriad of choices represents a lot of options for consumers. But that isn’t a bad thing. According to Medill Reports, “It all comes back to fuel efficiency. The survey showed that 83 percent of its respondents said they would be willing to pay more for a more fuel efficient vehicle and listed cost savings as the No. 1 motivator with environmental friendliness coming in at No. 2.”

With the growing availability of different types and capabilities of alternative-fuel vehicles—and the subsequent increases of the numbers of those vehicles on the road—it’s becoming more and more important to have first responders who are well-trained in addressing all types of vehicles. That’s why EV Safety Training is committed to educating every first responder in the country: to keep  you driving green, and driving safe.

 

GM to produce all-electric Chevy Spark by 2013

Move over, Nissan Leaf—there’s a new all-electric car with a catchy name coming to town!

On Wednesday, General Motors announced that it will be manufacturing its very first all-electric vehicle, a version of the Chevrolet Spark minicar. The new EV will debut in 2013.

“Chevrolet will produce an all-electric version of the Spark minicar for selected U.S. and global markets, including California,” said Jim Federico, Chevy’s global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles, at the company’s Detroit headquarters. The new electric Spark will continue GM’s plan to seize the title of “world’s greenest automaker” from Toyota and Honda.

The Spark will come on the heels of the Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle that uses both a high-voltage battery and a gas engine. The lithium-ion battery provides an electric-only range of up to fifty miles, at which point the 1.4-liter gas engine kicks in. 

 

EV Safety Training in New Hampshire

 Trainees in New Hampshire learn about the components and safety features of a
new Chevrolet Volt, provided by Hilltop Chevrolet in Somersworth, NH

It was a beautiful fall day in New Hampshire, and the EV Safety Training Team was in Concord to deliver a train-the-trainer course. Nearly fifty students learned all there is to know about electric vehicle safety from Subject Matter Expert Chris Pepler and Project Coordinator Angela Burke.

Later in the afternoon, the class moved outside to explore some hybrid and electric vehicles. The New Hampshire trainees were lucky enough to have three electric vehicles (and even two hybrids) for the hands-on portion of their training: there were two Chevrolet Volts (one brought to us by Banks Chevrolet, the other provided by Hilltop Chevrolet), as well as a new 2012 Toyota Plug-in Prius provided by the New Hampshire Automobile Dealer's Association.

Curious about when the EV Safety Training team will head to your state? Check out our training calendar.

Mother Nature Network names its top 10 electric vehicles

The Ford Focus Electric came in at #6 on Mother Nature Network's list.

While electric vehicles have been around in one form or another for more than a century, the hybrid and electric vehicle industry is still considered relatively new. Here at EV Safety Training, we know all about the ins and outs of just about every hybrid and EV on the market, but for most drivers, when someone mentions an electric vehicle, all they think is, “Oh, like the Prius, right?”

There’s more to electric vehicles than just saving money on gas. The technology used in hybrids and EVs is designed to save something even more important than gas money—our environment!

Mother Nature Network, a huge online resource for anyone interested in green technology, green living, and overall world improvement, released its list of the Top 10 Electric Cars that it finds most likely to succeed. Factors to make the list included battery range, hybrid ability, charging time, and price. 

 

Cadillac plans an electric vehicle

Some auto buyers are brand loyalists, and won’t move into the field of hybrid and electric vehicles until their favorite manufacturer comes out with a model. Well, for those of you who have been holding out for Cadillac—your wait just got shorter!

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Cadillac has announced that it plans to come out with a compact, electric car. The Cadillac ELR will be an extended-range electric vehicle, similar to the Chevrolet Volt. Extended-range electric vehicles have a built-in combustion engine, which will kick in if the battery runs out of power to act as a generator.

“Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present: the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing.

No price information has been released, but buyers can likely expect a tax rebate similar to those provided for other environmentally-friendly vehicles.