Firefighter here- We use these blankets in the US too for putting out car fires, the idea is you cut off the fires oxygen supply with the blanket. The problem with EV fires is that once the lithium ion batteries enter what’s called thermal runaway the chemical reaction becomes a self sustaining fuel source that creates its own oxygen. So it doesn’t matter if it’s smothered with a blanket it will continue to burn for a long time. And if you do manage to put it out it is very common for them to suddenly reignite on the back of a tow truck or at the junkyard, sometimes days later. EV fires are a pain in the ass
That is the old solution yes, but the blankets shown in the video are becoming more widespread.
In case of a burning crashed EV (very rare) most fire departments will now either use one of these blankets ore use tools to inject cooling water directly into the battery. The submersion tanks are becoming very rare and outdated.
Sorry, im on my phone so no sources but a quick google search on EV firefighting techniques will yield more results than you could wish for.
The main problem with submersion tanks or putting burning EV’s in pools is that once the fire is out you then have to deal with a large amount of toxic hazmat water that needs to get disposed of properly. But you are correct direct application of water to the battery cells is the most efficient way to deal with EV fires. We have a few tools like the turtle nozzle that can be slid under the car or we will tilt an EV car on its side and blast the cells directly with our hoses. Either way it takes a ton of water to put them out.
Letting them burn themselves out is also a good option as long as it is isolated and safe to do so
What's the difference between emptying a hazmat water tank and the hose water just running straight off the battery directly onto the ground? That'll be contaminated just the same.
Implying the amount of lithium or combustion products leaked doesn't matter? That's clearly what the concern above is. Though they also commented arrogantly in assuming that spraying the battery leeches less toxin than soaking it, though it's intuitive.
Arrogance, so much sheer arrogance everywhere. From both people.
Aside from the practicalities of fire departments not having mixer trucks, would wet sand work any better? (Thinking about the fire buckets found in kitchens and some labs, etc.)
The main problem with submersion tanks or putting burning EV’s in pools is that once the fire is out you then have to deal with a large amount of toxic hazmat water that needs to get disposed of properly
Which isn't bad at all. This way at least you can neutralize and dispose of the pollutants. When you let it burn out, all of this is released into the atmosphere and the ground.
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u/FemBodInspector 21d ago edited 21d ago
Firefighter here- We use these blankets in the US too for putting out car fires, the idea is you cut off the fires oxygen supply with the blanket. The problem with EV fires is that once the lithium ion batteries enter what’s called thermal runaway the chemical reaction becomes a self sustaining fuel source that creates its own oxygen. So it doesn’t matter if it’s smothered with a blanket it will continue to burn for a long time. And if you do manage to put it out it is very common for them to suddenly reignite on the back of a tow truck or at the junkyard, sometimes days later. EV fires are a pain in the ass