Like combustion vehicles, electric ones are not immune to the risk of fire. The problem is how to extinguish a lithium battery fire.
In fact, when it catches fire, the temperature of its lithium cells rises considerably and rapidly. This leads to the inflammation of other components and a generalized combustion of the battery. This is known as thermal runaway, a complicated chain reaction for firefighters to manage… and to stop. In fact, the only way to prevent the explosion is to cool the lithium battery. A real challenge, especially as this type of fire gives off toxic smoke and can spread rapidly if not kept under control.
Despite these difficulties, extinguishing the fire is possible, and the use of a Flamastop fire blanket is an effective solution for controlling the fire and preventing its spread.
Lithium battery: what are their risks?
Lithium batteries have become a part of our everyday lives. In particular, they are used in electric vehicles of all sizes, for both private and professional use. However, there are risks associated with their use:
- Overheating ;
- Short circuit;
- Material damage caused by impact or accident, for example.
If one of these risks arises, they can catch fire. That’s why you need to be careful when you handle, store and recharge them. For example, always recharge them with the right charger, avoid leaving them discharged for long periods, and avoid exposing them to high ambient temperatures.
Similarly, in the event of a fire, contacting the fire department immediately is the first thing to do.
Combustion vehicle vs. electric vehicle: what’s the difference in the case of fire?
An electric vehicle fire is more complicated for firefighters to extinguish than that of a combustion vehicle, because of the lithium battery.
When combustion-powered vehicles catch fire, the flames can be extinguished gradually by the lack of oxygen. But in the case of an electric vehicle, the battery must first be cooled. Smothering the flames with a fire blanket does not extinguish them; it simply helps to contain them and limit their spread.
A lithium battery fire is also very impressive. The smoke is thick, dark and highly toxic. The flames are large and can spread to other vehicles and buildings. Controlling the fire is essential for limiting material, health and human damage.
What solutions to stop a lithium battery fire?
To extinguish a lithium battery fire in an electric vehicle, intervention of the fire brigade is required. Today, a number of techniques are used to extinguish such a fire:
- Irrigating the battery with water cools it down and stops its components from burning, but this requires a lot of water as it has to be completely submerged;
- Use dry sand to prevent oxygen intrusion;
- Cover the electric vehicle with a fire blanket to lower the temperature, reduce the emission of toxic smoke into the air and contain the fire. Its role is not to extinguish the fire, but to control it by limiting the spread of the flames. In this way, the battery continues to burn in a controlled way, until the end of its combustion, when the firefighters can intervene.
To find out more about using a fire blanket for electric vehicles, don’t hesitate to contact us!