On the topic

Up-to-date information on how to handle electric vehicles involved in accidents, intended for practitioners from the fire department, police, emergency medical services, and other organizations involved in accidents (e.g., fires) involving hybrid and electric vehicles:

• Design of Electric Vehicles and Their Components and Systems
• Major Hazards and Safety Measures in the Event of Accidents Involving Electric Cars
• Electrical Safety, Battery Fires, and Chemical Hazards
• Fundamentals of Firefighting and the Deactivation of Energy Storage Systems
• Operational tactics of the fire department, from reconnaissance to assessment, from decision-making to issuing orders
• Risk Matrix and Tactical Response Options for Fire Departments Involved in Accidents Involving Electric Vehicles, Taking into Account the Severity of the Accident
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Fire Suppression and Cooling Methods for Burning Electric Vehicles
• The Impact of Electric Mobility on Police Organizational Operations in the Areas of Fleet Management, Facility Management, and Electric Vehicles as Operational Tools
• Challenges in the Field of Forensic Investigations of Electric Vehicles and the Preservation of Evidence
• Guidelines for First Responders in Electric Vehicle Accidents

For automotive experts who begin their work at the accident scene shortly after the accident, the immediate priorities are ensuring their own safety and assessing the condition of the HV battery. In addition, securing accident-related evidence early on (e.g., EDR data or DTCs) can help prevent data loss caused by a potential thermal runaway, which in some cases can occur even days after the accident.