There’s a lot of buzz around electric vehicles. Some climate activists claim they’re an environmental cure-all, while others note their hidden environmental costs. Some believe the demand for EVs will create a lucrative new American industry, while others think it’ll only enrich China.Whatever your opinion, any new technology comes with unexpected complications. And buried under all the EV headlines is one major problem: public safety.
Our public infrastructure and emergency response systems simply weren’t designed to handle this new technology. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is at the helm of mitigating safety problems created by EVs. And in 2020, the agency researched the risks of electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries.What they found was literally shocking.
The high-voltage batteries in EVs can cause electric shock not just to drivers, but also to the officers who respond on the scene of crashes. And any contact with fire, however small, can cause the batteries to explode. The study highlighted the need for training and clear guidance for first and second responders.
