From Hyundai to Tesla and BMW, thermal runaway incidents and battery fires are a becoming a growing challenge as EV makers everywhere race to extend range and promote higher-speed charging. News around vehicle recalls and lawsuits over battery fires are making headlines, with US regulators making electric vehicle battery safety a priority, urging car makers to craft better response guides for consumers. While technology improvements are necessary, the demand for steady improvement is putting EV batteries under tremendous pressure, turning innovations into potential hazards.
In an 80-page report recently published by the National Transportation Safety Board, a review of emergency response guidelines from 36 manufacturers found that all had ways to mitigate the risk of high-voltage shocks including methods for disconnecting the battery. But none of the guides spoke to limiting the risk of energy stored in the batteries, such as procedures for minimizing re-ignition or instructions on where and how to spray water to cool the batteries, the agency said.
NTSB spokesperson and Survival Factors Investigator, Thomas Barth takes the virtual stage at the Global EV Battery Fires Safety Summit 2021 on 25th February to give you a detailed look at key findings from the NTSB’s exhaustive report.
View full details of the event including the agenda and speaker line up. Our exclusive discount code for Automotive IQ readers is "EV200". Enter it when registering here to secure your place with a £200 discount.