SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR CRASHES INVOLVING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract

cases where there has been a fuel leak due to disruption of fuel lines or rupture of the fuel tank. Out Fully electric vehicles are being introduced to the of hundreds of crash tests ANCAP has experienced passenger car market in addition to the already popular one minor fire, where an electrical short ignited some hybrid vehicles. There are existing and proposed foam plastic insulation near the crushed radiator. standards for the design of these vehicles to reduce the Another post-crash hazard from conventional vehicles risk of occupants and rescue personnel being exposed is leakage of battery acid. to hazards such as corrosive chemicals, toxic fumes, Fully electric and electric hybrid vehicles potentially fire and electric shock in the event of a crash. Some introduce new types of post-crash hazards. This paper manufacturers are understood to be working with reviews those potential hazards and provides advice rescue organisations to develop appropriate procedures for minimising risks. It is stressed, however, that for dealing with these crashes. experience with electric vehicles is limited and that New Car Assessment Programs (NCAPs) have this advice will need to be reviewed as more subjected several petrol-electric hybrid vehicles to the information becomes available. It is also 64km/h frontal offset crash test, 50km/h barrier side acknowledged that vehicles manufacturers have put impact test and the 29km/h side pole test. No problems considerable resources into developing safe and with the electrical systems or batteries were reliable electrical systems for the current generation of encountered. These tests have generally involved electric vehicles. A serious incident involving a vehicles with lead-acid or NiMH batteries. Lithium-ion lithium-ion car battery is considered to be highly batteries are becoming popular and these might unlikely but it is important that crash test organisations introduce different hazards for crash-test and rescue and rescue organisations understand and are prepared personnel. for the potential hazards. In October 2010 a research crash test of an electric car ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY with a Lithium-ion battery was conducted by Electrically-propelled automobiles have been in use for Australasian NCAP and Japan NCAP. Additionally, more than a century: Euro NCAP has also assessed a number of vehicles “Stored electricity finds its greatest usefulness in powered by Li-ion batteries. This paper reviews the safety hazards and outcomes associated with those propelling cars and road vehicles, and it has been for tests and provides draft advice for crash test and rescue this application, primarily, that the Edison storage organisations. battery has been developed. Mr Edison saw that there INTRODUCTION are two viewpoints: that of the electrical man with his instruments, his rules of efficient operation and The Australasian New Car Assessment Program reasonable life of the battery, his absolute knowledge (ANCAP), US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that the same care should be given a vehicle battery (IIHS) and Euro NCAP have conducted 64km/h frontal that is given a valued horse or even a railroad offset crash tests since the mid 1990s. Japan NCAP locomotive; and that of the automobile driver, who and Korean NCAP also conduct this test. These simply wishes to go somewhere with his car, and who, organisations have also conducted 29km/h side pole when he arrives somewhere, wishes to go back. And in tests on many vehicle models. the long-promised storage battery the highly practical Almost all the tested vehicles have had conventional nature of Edison’s work is once more exemplified in that he has held uncompromisingly to the fuel systems (petrol or diesel). There have been several