The National Fire Agency’s National Fire Research Institute announced on the 2nd that it has published a revised edition of the ‘Electric Vehicle Fire Response Guide’ to more effectively respond to electric vehicle fires, and distributed it to fire stations nationwide.
This revised edition has been practically supplemented to improve fire response strategies in line with the increase in electric vehicle distribution since the first edition in March 2023. It includes strategies for commercial electric vehicles like electric trucks, high-risk scenarios with explosion potential, and the use of special suppression equipment.
The guide incorporates details about vehicle structure, fire characteristics, and outcomes from battery pack empirical tests. Notably, it includes precise analysis of electric vehicle battery ignition properties and response stages, as well as practical response cases for special electric vehicles like electric forklifts.
This revision is based on interim results from collaborative research (2024-2027) conducted by the National Fire Research Institute, Hyundai Motor Company, and the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers. It has been praised for merging scientific analysis with field applicability, enhancing its usefulness.
Kim Yeon-sang, Director of the National Fire Research Institute, stated, “Electric vehicles possess different fire characteristics from internal combustion vehicles, necessitating customized responses. The revised guide is structured with the goal of practical field application, promising to be of substantial assistance in responding to electric vehicle fires.”
