4 electrical car (EV) fires occurred in Malaysia between January and September this 12 months, experiences The Solar. That is in keeping with Putrajaya hearth and rescue division hearth security division director Datuk Khirudin Drahman Hussain, who suggested EV house owners to observe the producer’s guide to make sure protected operation and cut back the danger of fires.
“EV house owners ought to keep away from overcharging, monitor charging classes and be sure that their autos aren’t uncovered to excessive warmth or particles. It could 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 consequence 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 stated.
Out of the 4 EV fires this 12 months, one occurred throughout charging, whereas three have been as a result of 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 take care of EV fires, though they solely serve to stop the hearth from spreading and to not extinguish it. It could 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.
Below 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 take care of them in addition to the additional precautions required, together with carrying full private protecting gear 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, finally producing extremely poisonous gases. “Regardless of frequent warnings about hearth risks, many individuals imagine it’s a distant danger that solely impacts others. It’s vital to be further cautious and alert to stop potential incidents,” he stated.
In the meantime, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) automotive growth centre director Dr Mohd Azman Abas stated EV battery applied sciences are vital in minimising the danger of a hearth. “Whereas most electrical autos at the moment use lithium-ion batteries, which supply excessive vitality density and effectivity, they’re additionally extra prone to dangers akin to overheating, which may end up in thermal runaway,” he defined.
The way in which a battery is designed and managed is vital, with techniques needing to make sure protected charging and discharging in addition to keep away from overheating, overcharging or quick circuits. He added that researchers are exploring the mixing of synthetic intelligence (AI) to reinforce the system’s means to foretell and detect potential points.
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