Emergency Management Strategies for Electric Vehicles

About the report:

Electric vehicle fires present unique challenges for roadway incident management due to lithium-ion battery thermal runaway characteristics that can result in extended suppression durations, toxic emissions, and reignition risks. This study assessed the prevalence and operational impacts of electric vehicle fires through analysis of vehicle fire incident durations from 2016 to 2024, review of emergency response guidelines, and interviews with Virginia incident responders.

Analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in long-duration vehicle fires between 2016 and 2019 and between 2022 and 2024, with fires exceeding 4 hours increasing by 42%. This shift is consistent with growing electric vehicle adoption and the extended cooling requirements documented for lithium-ion battery fires. Although Virginia has mandated electric vehicle safety training for firefighters, comparable requirements do not exist for transportation agency personnel or towing operators who play critical roles in incident management.

The study recommends that the Virginia Department of Transportation develop protocols for protecting critical infrastructure during electric vehicle fires, encourage additional electric vehicle training and requirements for police- and county-maintained towing rotations, implement systematic tracking of electric vehicle incidents in operations centers, and evaluate emerging suppression technologies for strategic deployment.

_{Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.}

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