The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing Feb. 29 on the dangers and risks electric-vehicle fires pose to first responders across the country. Appearing before the committee were the fire chief for San Bernadino County Fire Department and a representative of the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute at UL Research Institutes.
The hearing touched on several themes, including the differences between internal combustion engine vehicles and EVs – and the fires they cause – and safety and environmental concerns of EV fires. Committee members made it clear more research is needed to understand EV-battery fire risks and emphasized that more insight and data are needed to develop guidelines, training protocols, and technologies to address battery fires and protect the public and first responders.
One key issue for the property/casualty insurance industry related to EVs is the risk of fires and the high cost of cleanup afterward. During the hearing, there was discussion on the costs these fires put on local fire departments across the country.
For more on EVs, check out NAMIC’s new policy white paper that covers several key factors when considering EVs, including the basic building blocks of the vehicles, complex repair procedures, and privacy/cybersecurity risks.
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