4 electrical car (EV) fires occurred in Malaysia between January and September this yr, experiences The Solar. That is in accordance with Putrajaya hearth and rescue division hearth security division director Datuk Khirudin Drahman Hussain, who suggested EV homeowners to observe the producer’s guide to make sure protected operation and cut back the chance of fires.
“EV homeowners ought to keep away from overcharging, monitor charging classes and make sure that their automobiles usually are not uncovered to excessive warmth or particles. It might probably take from 5 to 24 hours to completely extinguish an EV hearth, relying on the dimensions of the battery (kWh) and the hearth load concerned. As a result of thermal runaway, the excessive warmth and fast deflagration course of make EV fires troublesome to extinguish with common ABC dry powder or water except the car is flooded with ice,” he mentioned.
Out of the 4 EV fires this yr, one occurred throughout charging, whereas three had been resulting from accidents. When thermal runaway happens, the battery pack overheats and ignites different cells, resulting in an intense and extended hearth that may launch giant quantities of warmth, poisonous gases and chemical fumes.
At current, water and a particular hearth blanket are used to cope with EV fires, though they solely serve to forestall the hearth from spreading and to not extinguish it. It might probably take a really very long time to place out an EV battery hearth experiencing thermal runaway, as evident by this case involving a Tesla Semi again in August.
Beneath the brand new hearth security pointers, EV charging bays in Malaysia should have an EV hearth blanket at a strategic level or a hearth command centre. Firefighters are additionally present process coaching and publicity to EV fires to learn to cope with them in addition to the additional precautions required, together with sporting full private protecting tools with a set of respiratory equipment.
Khirudin additionally famous that fires involving EV batteries can result in a vapour cloud explosion, with a 70% probability in basements or enclosed areas, in the end producing extremely poisonous gases. “Regardless of frequent warnings about hearth risks, many individuals consider it’s a distant danger that solely impacts others. It’s vital to be additional cautious and alert to forestall potential incidents,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) automotive improvement centre director Dr Mohd Azman Abas mentioned EV battery applied sciences are vital in minimising the chance of a hearth. “Whereas most electrical automobiles presently use lithium-ion batteries, which supply excessive power density and effectivity, they’re additionally extra inclined to dangers reminiscent of overheating, which can lead to thermal runaway,” he defined.
The best way a battery is designed and managed is vital, with methods needing to make sure protected charging and discharging in addition to keep away from overheating, overcharging or brief circuits. He added that researchers are exploring the combination of synthetic intelligence (AI) to reinforce the system’s potential to foretell and detect potential points.
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