A tragic accident in Upper Austria has raised concerns about the safety of electric vehicles after two passengers were killed in a fire.
The incident occurred in the municipality of Buchkirchen, where an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were trapped in an electric car that caught fire after veering off the road.
According to Kurier, investigations are still ongoing, but evidence suggests that the electric car burst into flames after the crash.
Firefighters faced challenges during the rescue efforts as the car repeatedly reignited, complicating the situation further.
This incident has led some to worry that electric vehicles may be more dangerous than those with traditional engines. However, experts emphasize that while electric cars come with different risks, they are not necessarily more dangerous.
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What Are the Risks of Electric Cars?
One study from the UK suggests that younger drivers are more likely to drive electric cars, which might lead to more accidents.
Electric cars are also heavier than traditional cars because of their batteries, which can affect how they handle and how quickly they can stop. The National Transportation Safety Board in the USA has warned about the risks of heavier electric cars.
Despite these concerns, Zurich Insurance says, "electric cars are no more or less dangerous than cars with combustion engines."
However, there are some unique risks to keep in mind:
High-Voltage Batteries: The batteries in electric cars are high-voltage storage devices that carry risks of electric shock and fire.
Fire Accidents: While rare, battery fires can occur and present unique challenges compared to traditional fuel fires.
Automatic Safety Measures: In case of danger, electric cars are designed to automatically interrupt the flow of electricity.
Challenges for Firefighters
Fires involving electric cars are less common but can be harder to put out.
The high-voltage batteries can produce very intense fires, similar to those from a ruptured fuel tank, according to Karl-Heinz Knorr, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association.
Unlike traditional fuel fires, which can be put out with fire-fighting foam, electric car fires require water to cool down the lithium-ion batteries.
The fire spreads inside the battery from one part to another, and it takes a lot of water and time to fully put out the flames because the battery casing makes it difficult for water to get inside.
Once the fire is out, recovering the electric car is more complicated. Special equipment is needed to safely handle the vehicle.
In the Upper Austria case, the car was towed using a special fireproof tub and will be kept in a quarantine container for 96 hours to make sure the fire doesn’t start again.
