— First responders to electric vehicle crashes and fires will have more assistance from eight companies that followed a safety recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board.
In January 2021, the NTSB issued a safety recommendation to 22 electric vehicle manufacturers based on an NTSB safety report entitled, "Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles."
NTSB investigators found automaker emergency response guides were not up to par. The government also found gaps in safety standards and research regarding high-speed crashes which involve electric vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
Federal investigators opened investigations following electric vehicle crashes because the high-powered lithium-ion batteries can shock first responders. Damaged battery cells can also suffer from thermal runaway, a phrase used to describe uncontrolled thermal and battery pressure temperatures.
But damaged electric vehicle batteries may have "stranded" energy that can reignite fires days after a crash. In a recent case of a Tesla electric vehicle crash, the batteries reignited at the salvage yard three weeks after the original fire.
The fire was finally extinguished by placing the Tesla into a pit of water.
Who Followed the NTSB Recommendation?
"Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Proterra, Van Hool, Volkswagen and Volvo have successfully completed the actions asked for in the NTSB recommendation." — NTSB
There are another 12 manufacturers making progress on the federal safety recommendation:
- BMW
- BYD
- Stellantis (Chrysler)
- Ford
- General Motors
- Gillig
- Kia
- Mercedes-Benz
- Nissan
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
However, the NTSB says Nova Bus Corporation and Karma Automotive haven't responded.
