Analysis of combustion gases and fire water run-offs from passenger vehicle fires

In the IEA Global EV Outlook 2022, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden were reported to have the highest electric car shares of the new car market: 86%, 72% and 43%, respectively. Electrification of the transport sector has multiple benefits but has also raised some concerns. Fires in electric vehicles are reported almost daily in the media and social media channels. However, fires starting in an electric vehicle traction battery (i.e., lithium-ion battery) are rare. If the traction battery catches fire, it can be difficult to extinguish since the battery pack in an electric vehicle is generally well protected and difficult to reach. To cool the battery cells, firefighters must prolong the application duration of suppression agent. This results in the use of large amounts of water, that potentially could carry pollutants into the environment. In this work, the analysis of extinguishing water from passenger vehicle fires are reported. Three large-scale vehicle fire tests were performed, the vehicles used were both conventional petrol fuelled and battery electric. Tests were performed indoors at RISE, Borås and the test setup allowed analysis of both combustion gases and extinguishing water. Results show that all analysed extinguishing water was highly contaminated. Additionally, the ecotoxicity analysis of the extinguishing water showed that the extinguishing water was highly toxic towards the tested aquatic species, independent of the traction energy of the vehicle.

• Record URL:
  • https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-67533
• Authors:
  • Hynynen, Jonna
  • Quant, Maria
  • Willstrand, Ola
  • Mallin, Tove
• Conference:
  • Seventh International Conference on Fires in Vehicles
  • Location: Stavanger , Norway
  • Date: 2023-4-24 to 2023-4-25
• Publication Date: 2023

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: pp 160-168

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical analysis; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Fire; Fire fighting; Fuels; Pollutants; Sampling; Tests; Toxicity; Vehicles; Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Full scale
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 7163: Chemical analysis; 3850: CNG; 3850: Compressed natural gas; 3850: Diesel oil; 1282: Electric vehicle; 1624: Fire; 9157: Fire protection ; 3390: Fixed fire fighting system; 3850: Fuel oil; 6227: Full scale; 3850: Liquid petroleum gas; 3850: LPG; 3850: Natural gas; 3850: Petrol; 2431: Pollutant; 6253: Sampling; 6255: Test; 2142: Toxicity; 1255: Vehicle; 2487: Water pollution
• Subject Areas: Energy; Vehicles and Equipment; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01907592
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD, VTI
• Created Date: Feb 8 2024 8:39AM