All rescue professionals know that organisation and speed are of the essence in a road accident involving vehicles: a protection zone has to be created around the accident, and then passengers have to be extricated and given assistance. And all this happens in conditions that may sometimes be difficult: at night time, on uneven ground or in bad weather. The new electric and hybrid vehicles cannot escape this reality – even if one may hope that they will contribute to improving behaviour by encouraging calmer driving. In fact, the risks on the road remain.
The emergency services are also going to have to adapt to these changing vehicles and take their specificity into account. “As with thermic cars, the electric vehicle has inherent risks, but for different reasons: because of the battery and not the fuel tank”, confirms Claire Petit Boulanger, Road Safety Manager at Renault. “The high-voltage electric cables that connect the battery to the engine can lead to the risk of electrocution if they are cut or pulled out.” In order to carry out these interventions, fire fighters must wear specific gloves and respect a certain number of guidelines.
The [French] jargon calls this the “6i” rule: identify, inspect, immobilise, isolate, prevent and respond. Many new practices are being added to those already in force concerning the pyrotechnic airbag release systems and the seatbelt pre-tensioners.
Instruction booklets for each model
Toyota is a leader in the hybrid technology field and has been co-operating with fire fighters since the launch of its first-generation Prius model over ten years ago. “We organise
on-demand training for rescue workers for all our new hybrid models”, assures Hélène Vay, head of PR for Toyota France. Everything is explained down to the smallest details over two full days of training and in a 180-page document. “We give them all the necessary guidelines, according to their own response protocols”.
Before it brings its first mass-produced electric vehicles to market in 2011, Renault has been carrying out detailed studies for each of its forthcoming models (notably the Kangoo and the Fluence ZE). “This upstream work was carried out in collaboration with fire fighters in order to facilitate their job and best respond to their expectations. Together, we first identified all the collision-related risks: battery leakage, overheating, white smoke and other dangers requiring immediate and heavy spraying”, relates Claire Petit Boulanger. “From this, we designed specification sheets called ERGs (Emergency Response Guide), which are characteristic to each vehicle and are intended for rescue workers.” This is a first. From now on, every new Renault model, whether it is electric or thermic, will have such specification sheets.
These ERGs will be put at the disposal of the relevant emergency services, free of charge and via the Internet: in France with the SDIS (Departmental Fire and Emergency Services); but also abroad. Translated into 26 languages, the documents contain visuals and technical diagrams designating, in particular, the locations of the cables and the battery. They may be accompanied by videos that show, in the most educational manner possible, the different steps to follow during response: recognising the vehicle, turning the battery off, cutting cables and sheet metal, etc.
General Motors gets organised in the United States
A similar informational initiative is currently being carried out in the United States by the GM group, which is preparing to launch the Chevrolet Volt, its rechargeable hybrid saloon. The marque has in fact partnered with OEM OnStar and with large local emergency services in order to develop special training for fire fighters, the police and various emergency rescue centres. “We believe that a training programme is necessary in order to assist rescue workers to respond perfectly in the case of an electric vehicle accident or in any other emergency”, explains Carmen Benavides, Chevrolet Safety Director.
On the agenda, videos and photos showing the principal controls OR organs OR components of the Volt: the zones using highly resilient steel, where to cut in case of extrication, imprinted information and other labels useful in identifying the vehicle. They also show the automatic power cut systems and manuals for the fuel systems. These training sessions will be given by instructors or online on private websites, in all the regions in which the Volt is to be sold.
Renault does the rounds of the fire stations
To successfully lead its electric vehicle information campaign, Renault has been using several Kangoo ZE prototypes in order to train rescue workers in the field. This initiative is being run by a man who wears two hats: Bruno Azmi, head of events and protection for new vehicles at Renault and also a volunteer fireman for 29 years (team leader at the Fire and Emergency Centre of Ezy sur Eure). “During these road shows that we’re taking all over Europe to promote the Renault electric vehicle, we’re making the most of them in order to meet teams of rescue workers on the spot. I’ve been going round fire stations in France and Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, England...) for 2 years now, in order to pass on the best practices.” The idea is to explain procedure in practical terms to fire brigade team leaders who will, in turn, train their own men.
According to Bruno Azmi, the initiative has been welcomed unanimously by the professionals. “There is a strong requirement for information among the fire fighters that I meet”, he notes. “They appreciate the fact that we’re going to them, that a manufacturer takes the initiative and explains to them which step to take; it facilitates their job and reassures them”.
“Collaboration with manufacturers is good on the whole”, confirms Colonel Henry Bénéditini, head of technical communications for the fire brigade in the Aude department. “We have easy access to extrication information for new vehicles by category (thermic, hybrid or electric)”. These are collected by the DSC (emergency services dealing with natural disasters, bomb disposal etc) and then passed onto teams in the SDIS (Departmental Fire and Emergency Services). “We don’t have any great concerns about responding to electric vehicle incidents. The only difficulty comes from the fact that every model is specific, and we’ll have to get used to this.” This confidence is, however, not valid for other types of alternative power: “we’re very concerned about changes in GPL vehicles or those running off hydrogen, which pose a risk of explosion and therefore greater danger. “
