Electric Vehicles

Unless you have been sleeping under a rock someplace, you have to know about the challenges fire departments are facing, or are likely to face, regarding electric vehicles (EVs). If you have not experienced a fire involving lithium-ion batteries, it is just a matter of time as more and more of these products are used.

Fires involving the automobile and scooter batteries have challenged the best fire departments as traditional extinguishing methods are not as effective as they are on more traditional vehicles.

In addition to the fire threats that will require a response and action, some departments are being directed to, or opting to on their own, acquire EVs as part of their fleets. My hat is off to them for being the first adopters. There are many unanswered questions regarding these trucks, so those who opt in first will be experimenting to some extent, figuring out how things will be different and what can be done to ensure reliability. Emergency vehicle manufacturers have invested in this technology and will need to see a return on this investment. You can expect more choices and incentives to get in on the ground floor.

There are many issues to consider if acquiring an electric emergency vehicle. The government and apparatus manufacturers are pressing the service to consider this alternative. I suspect, unless there is some significant change in philosophies, that everyone will be looking at electric alternatives in the future. How far into the future is anyone’s guess. Those who are waiting for the right time will definitely benefit from the experiences of early adopters. Regardless, there are questions you should ask, most of which you should probably ask regardless of the type of vehicle you want. As I am not in the market for an EV, I do not know how many of these are answered or if the answers are sufficient to proceed.

If considering your options, ask about reliability, warranty, repairs, parts replacement, and station modifications. Regarding reliability, since there is no history or track record to consider, you should look into any information that would indicate that the vehicles will perform as well as (or better than) your current fleet. I would want to know how long a vehicle can operate on batteries and what happens when the batteries lose their charge. Following up, how long does it take to recharge? If a vehicle is being recharged, what is your response plan for the next emergency that will certainly occur? Will you need to maintain gasoline or diesel vehicles as backups, or will you need multiple vehicles so you have the necessary redundancy?

In my opinion, fire apparatus have become much more reliable, and I believe that the EVs will follow suit. Still, there is always the possibility of a breakdown. Who does the repairs? Will significant repairs require a trip back to the factory? Depending on your location, this could take the vehicle out of service for a long time. Also, will you have mechanics trained to perform simple and preventive maintenance? Nothing operates without proper work being done according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Not knowing specifics, a best guess is that some of this will not be the same as internal combustion engines.

Is your station ready for an EV? What types of investments will you need to make? You need to check with your energy supplier’s ability to provide the necessary power to recharge in a timely manner. You also need a backup plan during inevitable power outages. Even with emergency generators, you need to make sure that they are tied into the charging station and have sufficient capacity.

Regarding the emerging EV fire truck sector, nothing mentioned here should be construed as negative toward this technology. The intention is to be prepared to ask questions and be ready when your time comes. Students of fire service history know many examples of resistance to change when new ideas are put forward. Eventually, the good ideas remain, and the service progresses. Regardless of your viewpoint on EVs, preparation is essential should you not be the final decider.

The other aspect of EVs, specifically anything that motors around with lithium-ion batteries, is the need to prepare should an emergency occur. There has been much written about the volatility of these fires and difficulties extinguishing them. Everyone should be working on a plan of action should you be faced with one of these challenges. There have been many options for response and varying levels of success. As this is a dynamic topic, methodologies and successes are varying and merit continued monitoring of developments. The FDNY has had many responses and has shared its approach. Underwriters Laboratories is also doing research, so it behooves you to continue to pay attention to this issue.

As for your firefighters, training is extremely important. While time for training in many organizations seems to be less and less, this is an area that cannot be ignored. All personnel have to be on the same page to understand the risks, potential extinguishing options, and overall strategy. Departments may also experience more media attention to calls such as these as it is newsworthy and likely to get a response from news crews. Preparing responders for media contact should be included in your training.

Methods of extinguishment are being discussed: copious amounts of water, allowing the fire to burn itself out while protecting exposures, and even completely encapsulating. What will your approach be? What tools do you have available? In some cases, like operating on an interstate, there may not be “copious” amounts of water. You may not have resources to encapsulate. Irrespective, you will be asked to respond and take some action. That action cannot make things worse and cannot place firefighters in a situation with unnecessary risks. Once the vehicle catches fire, it is headed to the scrap yard, so risking injury must not be part of the attack.

EVs are a significant change technologically facing the fire service. This applies to threats to firefighters during emergencies and the pressure in some places to switch to battery-operated apparatus. There are not many concrete answers, but there are a lot of questions. You need to be ready to ask the right questions and know what your department needs to do to prepare on both fronts.

RICHARD MARINUCCI is the executive director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) and chief (ret.) of the White Lake Township (MI) Fire Department. He retired as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department in 2008, a position he had held since 1984. He is a Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and Fire Engineering Editorial Advisory Board member, a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and past chairman of the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation. In 1999, he served as acting chief operating officer of the U.S. Fire Administration for seven months. He has a master’s degree and three bachelor’s degrees in fire science and administration and has taught extensively.