Fire Hazard of Hybrid and Electricand Vehicles

Abstract

In the following time, we received information from many countries of the world about accidents related to fires and explosions of motor vehicles with electric and hybrid vehicles. The popularity of such news is caused by the fact that accidents and fires of cars with internal combustion engines have long become commonplace, which do not attract the attention of the general public. However, many numerous and conducted scientific studies say about the danger of electric and hybrid vehicle models with lithium-ion batteries that they are greatly exaggerated, i.e., damage to the traction battery (battery) can cause a self-destructive chain reaction, but the degree the danger of electrolyte is less than that of gasoline or diesel fuel and much less than that of hydrogen fuel in hybrid modifications. The article examines the causes of the fire hazard of electric and hybrid cars and their consequences. Scientific reasons and innovations regarding the prevention and immediate elimination of short circuits, fires and explosions in the closed space of lithium-ion batteries during the operation of electric hybrid cars are provided. Electric vehicles and hybrids tend to suffer from traction battery technical and other issues. Although a battery flash is dangerous and more difficult to extinguish than a gas flash, the cause of the fire is usually different and these results are found in a defect in the battery pack: "ruptured anode" and "complex separator". The Hyundai Kona and Chevrolet Bolt EV had the most electric vehicle recalls related to fires this year, totaling 152,000 vehicles, while the top two hybrid recalls totaled more than 32,000 vehicles. A lithium-ion type of car catches fire usually not immediately, but after some time. This determines the driver and passengers to immediately leave the interior of the vehicle. When extinguishing a fire, there is a risk of damage to passengers, eyewitnesses and others who are near it by the electric current of high-voltage systems. It is recommended to get out of the interior of the car engulfed in fire and smoke in a timely manner and call the rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by calling the emergency service. The main task of the firefighters who arrived in the city at the first stage of the event was to disconnect the high-voltage cable using an emergency disconnector or mechanically and to disconnect the high-voltage traction battery. Although the risk of flash in EVs and hybrids exists, it may be receiving a disproportionate amount of attention. It is important for car manufacturers to eliminate the risk of ignition in their vehicles as much as possible, but obviously no form of driving is completely safe. Keywords: hybrid and electricand car, fire, explosion, lithium-ion battery.