The Warning
At EV-EXBOX we fully support the move to cleaner fuels. The transition from the internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV) is an important stepping stone.
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However, in the rush to roll out EV charging hubs & charging locations no consideration has been given to fire suppression or environmental protection.
Today fires are a rare occurrence but as charging infrastructure & EV vehicles get older, battery related fires will become more common.
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Improvised cable repairs, cable theft, cheaper counterfeit cables & an unregulated second hand battery market will all increase the risk of thermal runaway & fire in the future.
The demand for faster charging will put more strain on the batteries themselves. Small car park shunts, road traffic accidents, potholes & speed bumps will also add to the deterioration of the lithium-ion battery over time.
With EV charging facilities now being installed in basements & multistorey car parks, the consequences of an EV fire will become even more serious.
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Many structures were never designed to withstand the extreme heat of an EV fire. Existing fire and smoke detection systems are now outmoded. The level of toxic smoke & explosive gases emitted from an EV fire have not been considered.
The main risks of petrol filling stations was always explosion, fire & environmental pollution, but these risks were designed out. With EV charging hubs & locations, the same or even worse risks are present. They have not been designed out.