Page 225 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 3

Orhan Topal

with/after these accidents. Emergency response operations are more critical
compared to the standart internal combustion engine vehicles, and it requires
utmost attention of officers, especially the emergency response teams. In this
sense, it should be considered that lithium-based batteries have chemical
substances that flow out at high temperatures and may be ignition. It should
be noted that fires occurring in high voltage propulsion batteries may also
reignite after being extinguished. Before leaving the site of an accident, it
is necessary to make sure by using a thermal camera that the high-voltage
battery pack has completely cooled down. Other response teams should also
be informed that the high voltage propulsion battery has a risk of reigniting.
In such cases, these high voltage propulsion batteries should be placed in an
open area for a certain period avoiding to pose a danger for the surrounding
area of about 15-20 meters and should be kept under supervision. The risks
such as direct contact with the electrolyte liquid spilled from the high voltage
battery unit of the electric & hybrid vehicle after a possible accident or stepping
on this accumulated liquid as well as the emitting of chemical gasses should
also be taken into consideration. The emergency response teams should have
suitable personal protective equipment (safety helmet, safety glasses, oxygen
mask, gloves and shoes) compatible with the relevant standards.
The study highlights the need for improvements in the MSD equipment
used for high-voltage propulsion batteries in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Specifically, it is recommended to make the use of this equipment mandatory
and ensure more effective use through the integration of additional DC circuit
breakers into their structures.
In conclusion, it is essential for electric and hybrid vehicles, based on
the concept of electromobility, to not only provide a viable alternative to
achieve 100% zero emissions but also prioritize safety and accessibility. This
necessitates the implementation of proper, effective, and comprehensive
approaches for emergency response teams to handle emergency situations.

References

Blum, A.Long, R.T. (2015) “Full-scale Fire Tests of Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries”.
SAE Int. J. Passeng. Cars Mech. Syst. 8, 565–572.
Cabrera-Castillo, E.-Niedermeier, F.-Jossen, (2016) A. Calculation of the state of
safety (SOS) for lithium ion batteries. J. Power Sour. 324, 509–520.
Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV). Hinweise für die
Brandbekämpfung von Lithium-Ionen-Akkus bei Fahrzeugbränden. July 2020.

210 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate