Comparison of the fire consequences of an electric vehicle and an internal combustion engine vehicle

Amandine Lecocq (1) , Marie Bertana (1) , Benjamin Truchot (1) , Guy Marlair (1)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques

Since energy storage systems represent key new technologies in the development of electric vehicles (EV), risks pertaining to them have to be examined closely. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries powering EV contain highly energetic active materials and flammable organic electrolytes, which raise safety questions, different to conventional cars. In case of EV fire, concerns remain about batteries fire behavior, about their impact on the fire growth, about their fire-induced potential toxicity, especially in confined spaces and underground car parks and about their reaction with water in case of firemen intervention. Fire tests were therefore achieved for two French car manufacturers on two battery units, on a full battery pack, on an EV and on an analogous internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Thermal and toxic threat parameters governing the fire risk were quantified. For this purpose, the heat release rate and the effective heat of combustion were determined to qualify the thermal impact whereas the main emitted gases governing the toxic potency of the fire effluents were measured. Fire consequences of an EV and the corresponding ICE vehicle were compared. This paper aims at presenting the main results of these fire tests.

Keywords: ELECTRIC VEHICLES; BATTERY; FIRE; SAFETY; EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]

Amandine Lecocq, Marie Bertana, Benjamin Truchot, Guy Marlair. Comparison of the fire consequences of an electric vehicle and an internal combustion engine vehicle. 2. International Conference on Fires In Vehicles - FIVE 2012, Sep 2012, Chicago, United States. pp.183-194. ⟨ineris-00973680⟩