Hybrids dangerous for accident first responders?
If you're the first responder to a traffic accident involving a hybrid, does the fact that there are batteries on-board make it more dangerous? Missouri seems to think so and will be putting nearly 1,800 first responders through essential training during the next two months so that they will know how to deal with this potentially dangerous situation. High-voltage hybrid vehicle battery systems won't be the only technology covered by the training though, issues around undeployed airbags will also be dealt with.
Analysis: The dangers of petrol and diesel spills in vehicle crashes are pretty well known by this point, even with Hollywood's enthusiasm to blow them completely out of proportion. But if you're using the Jaws Of Life to cut a door out and the side curtain airbag deploys, that could be a big problem, likewise with on-board hybrid battery systems. Training of this type will only have to increase in the future if the use of hydrogen fuel cells and related technologies become wide spread.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-16-2007 @ 11:49AM
Xoham said...
These hydrogen fuel cell cars just don't go away do they? Well they need to since the production of hydrogen is far from clean and they are far less efficient than electric cars with lithium ion batteries.
http://www.efcf.com/reports/E17.pdf
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2-16-2007 @ 12:49PM
Peter said...
High voltage systems are dangerous for first responders but so are gas tanks. The reason for the training is not because hybrids are more dangerous but simply because they are new and many first responders were trained before they were on the market.
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2-16-2007 @ 1:59PM
wcunning said...
The high voltage lines in hybrids don't run through the doors, so that won't be a problem for responders using the jaws of life. The cars have emergency shut-off systems to cut power from the high-voltage batteries. It's true that the shut-off could fail, but the high-voltage lines are also cased in bright orange insulation. Training first responders could be pretty quick, as in "don't touch the bright orange wires".
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2-16-2007 @ 4:48PM
Tim said...
Technological evolution is inevitable. Adjustments must and will be made. These adjustments include education and training. This is not really news.
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2-16-2007 @ 6:33PM
Doug R said...
Watching out for orange wires isn't an issue when you're working on the vehicle, but take one that has been crushed severely (a product of mileage over safety) in an accident and you could have a serious problem. They cut just about everywhere when needed, not just doors.
High voltage is a danger, gas tanks are a danger. Put the 2 together and you've got a potential disaster. Sure you have electrical concerns in all vehicles, but not of this nature.
I'd be surprised if Toyota hasn't thought of this and has some sort of education info for emergency workers of their own. Of course they do have an issue which came up recently of secret recalls and ignoring stuff their competitors usually tell their customers about.
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