How to extinguish electric cars, and why it is important to carry out maintenance on time

About fire safety and the most frequent causes of fires of electric cars on the air “Radio-Minsk” told the official representative of the Minsk city Department of EMERCOM Olga Melchenko. Details - in the material of the correspondent of the agency "Minsk-Novosti".

Causes of electric car fire

The number of electric vehicles in Belarus already exceeds 60 thousand units, of which 30 thousand drive in Minsk. By 2030, the capital’s fleet of electric cars may exceed the mark of 100 thousand, and the republican one – in 300 thousand.

Is the number of fires involving them increasing along with the number of environmentally friendly transport?

- In total, only five cases of fire were registered in the republic. However, of course, the risks increase in proportion to the increase in the total number of such machines, Melchenko said.

Under the bottom of the electric car is a high-voltage battery with a voltage of up to 800 V. In case of serious damage or short circuit, it provokes fire.

The first and most common cause of fire in any car is neglect of its technical condition. The second, non-obvious reason is left in the cabin water bottles or flavors in transparent bottles. They work like lenses, refracting sunlight and provoking ignition, explained the representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

According to Olga Melchenko, the specific causes of electric car fires are malfunctions that occur during charging, as well as mechanical damage to the battery itself. When igniting, the electric car emits a huge amount of toxic vapors, oxides of lithium, nickel, carbon, copper, cobalt, as well as sulfuric acid and other dangerous substances. That is why the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations work at a safe distance from the burning car.

The photo is illustrative in nature

Features of extinguishing

As the guest of the program noted, it takes a lot of time and water to eliminate the fire, or rather, to cool the battery itself. Rescuers use rolling installations that come under the bottom and direct water directly to the battery, as well as special barrels for point water supply to the fire. At the same time, the battery temperature is constantly monitored by the thermal imager: the battery should cool to 50 ° C. The car is then sent to a mobile tank. There, the battery is flooded for a day until completely cooled to prevent repeated self-ignition.

- Not so long ago, a passenger electric car caught fire in Minsk, Melchenko said. We eliminated the open flame in just 15 minutes, but it took a long time to cool the battery. After that, she was soaked for another day. After all, even after de-energizing the machine inside the battery, chemical reactions continue with the release of heat. It could cause another fire.

Due to the peculiarities of the device of electric cars, EMERCOM employees undergo special training.

- Special training has already been completed by 42 people. Rescuers regularly visit specialized service stations to study the design of modern electric cars: the location of high-voltage wires, disconnection systems and water supply points, as well as places where in case of an accident you can safely cut the body, said the representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The car caught fire - what to do?

If you witness a fire, call 101 or 112 immediately. Be clear about what happened and the dispatcher will give you the first instructions.

And O. Melchenko recommends owners of electric cars to issue insurance CASCO. Since after mandatory immersion of the car in water for a whole day, the probability of restoring and using it in the future is extremely small.