Experts call for increased regulations on electric battery safety.
The Dutch public safety institute, NIPV, has raised concerns about the lack of measures taken to address the issue of electric car transportation safety. Nils Rosmuller, a lecturer in transport safety at the NIPV, has highlighted the need for safer systems in electric car charging stations, likening it to the developments that have occurred since their initial introduction.
Last year, 117 electric cars caught fire in the Netherlands alone, according to the NIVP. One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with such fires is putting them out, as the protective casing around the battery prevents firewater from reaching it. This was evident in the fire on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, which has been burning off the coast of Ameland since Tuesday. Experts believe the fire may be due to a phenomenon called "thermal runaway," which makes the battery impossible to control.
The fire on the Fremantle Highway has once again highlighted the need for better sector safety rules for lithium-ion batteries. Last year, an electric vehicle fire occurred on cargo ship Felicity Ace, which went down near the Azores after burning for two weeks. The shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen, known for transporting electric cars, recently had to abort a transport due to an accident. Experts suspect that an electric car, now reported to be one of 498 on the ship, may have caused the fire.
Rosmuller is particularly worried about rough treatment causing battery damage and increasing the risk of fire in shared electric moped schemes. He also expresses concern about second-hand batteries for solar energy storage, as there is no guarantee of their quality. E-bike fires are becoming more common, with Rosmuller expressing concern about shared electric moped schemes. He notes that e-bikes are often stored in sheds, limiting the damage caused by fires.
The legal framework for electric vehicle safety is not keeping up with developments, according to Rosmuller. Apart from a ban by a Scandinavian shipping company, very few measures have been taken. Experts are calling for more attention to safety surrounding the use of batteries, including those in electric cars, e-bikes, and for neighborhood energy storage.
Putting out fires caused by thermal runaway is one of the most challenging aspects of transporting electric cars. In case of an unstable battery in an electric car, it must be towed away, posing a risk of re-ignition. The Dutch public safety institute NIPV has reported that fires like this can take days to extinguish.
As the use of electric vehicles and e-bikes continues to grow, it is crucial to address these safety concerns to ensure the protection of both the environment and the public.
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