AN ELECTRIC vehicle has crashed into the rear of another vehicle on a congested freeway. The car is severely damaged and emergency services are concerned the vehicle could catch fire.

But there is also the danger that the vehicle may be ‘live’ and because emergency services are dealing with an EV and cannot hear a running engine or gauge danger by seeing liquid fuel, there is concern that without viewing the ignition switch, it could move unexpectedly.

These safety concerns with unexpected movement of an EV that is being repaired or the subject of an accident has led to the development of an ‘emergency plug’ that disables the car and creates a safe working environment.

The plug, developed in the Netherlands and now available in Australia and New Zealand by distributors PT Rescue, is aimed specifically at emergency crew attending an EV accident but its uses extend to ensuring safety for technicians working on an EV.

It is designed for rescue and emergency services including fire brigades, police, ambulance service and for roadside assistance businesses, motoring clubs and garages and workshops and other agencies that work with or around EV and hybrid vehicles.

To date, it is being trialled by several emergency services organisations in Australia.

PT Rescue fire products manager Stuart Coulton told GoAutoNews Premium that one of the larger markets for the ‘emergency plug’ is the automotive industry.

For this reason, it also distributes the Garage Plug – which works in the same way – for workshops and means technicians don’t have to search and deceive the vehicle’s service disconnect plug.

Mr Coulton said that the problem with an EV that has been in an accident is that it can’t easily be determined if it is switched on or off.

There is no noise (as in an ICE vehicle) to show the car is potentially capable of unexpected movement which, in the case of emergency responders, could be injurious or even fatal to people working around the vehicle and for those who may be trapped inside.

“The plug makes it safe because by inserting it into the charging point, the car thinks it is being charged, so it selects a neutral or park mode, disabling its drive system and the traction battery,” said Mr Coulton.

“The procedure at the moment for the fire service when attending an event is to isolate the traction battery by removing or disabling plugs and fuses.These are sometimes located inside the vehicle, under the bonnet or inside the boot.

“So to disable the car, you have to go into those two danger areas, at the front and rear of the vehicle, which immediately puts the rescuer at risk if the car was to lurch forward suddenly or reverse unexpectedly.

“Whoever arrives first at the scene of the accident will place the emergency-plug in the charging socket of the vehicle.

“The emergency plug will communicate with the car’s software by making the car think it is being charged. As a result of this, it will not be possible to operate the car, or for it to drive off, making it safe for all emergency responders PT Rescue, part of the PT Hydraulics Group, also distributes the EV fire blankets.

Mr Coulton said the blankets, which were the subject of a GoAutoNews Premium article of November 13 last year (EV fires loom large) were unfolded and dragged over burning cars to contain the fire.

He said the Bridgehill blankets were suitable for car dealerships, car repair shops, car service workshops, EV charging facilities, car ferries, road tunnel operators (where toxic fumes are especially a danger), tow truck operators, and vehicle scrap yards.

“We have been supplying the Bridgehill car fire blankets to many Australian and New Zealand car dealerships and workshops which are looking to tackle the issues posed when working with EV and hybrid vehicles,” he said.

“Porsche Cars Australia were one of the first to recognise the potential risk of an uncontrolled EV or hybrid fire and purchased over 40 Bridgehill blankets to provide fire protection for their staff, dealerships, service centres and their substantial stock of vehicles.

“Many other of the major car dealerships in Australia and New Zealand when updating their own dealer standards for working with EV’s and Hybrid vehicles have mandated the use of Bridgehill car fire blankets,” he said.

By Neil Dowling