Risk Insight: Electric Vehicle Charging
01/25/2022
As Electric Vehicles continue to become more popular in the UK, and as private companies and local authorities strive to reduce their carbon footprints, the demand for a charging infrastructure and dedicated parking areas has exponentially increased. This document provides a brief overview of the main Property and Liability hazards associated with Electric Vehicle charging, and appropriate controls from a loss prevention perspective.
Overview
Significant investment by the UK Government (via the ‘Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund’), and by public authorities and private organisations, has resulted in new electric vehicle charging facilities becoming a prominent feature in a wide range of premises from multi-storey car parks, to national parks and commercial/retail premises.
Electric Vehicles (EV), including Hybrid Cars, E-bikes and Mobility Scooters, typically store energy in Lithium batteries of different capacities and chemistries to supply the vehicle’s power demand. Recent loss history has shown that fires involving these batteries can create a serious challenge for firefighting.
Many Electric Vehicles use Lithium-Ion batteries (Li-Ions or LIBs) as a power source for the electric motor and other electrical components utilised in modern vehicles. Compared to other, conventional battery types, Lithium batteries provide higher energy densities and extended lifetimes. If the Electric Vehicles are operated according to manufacturer’s specifications, operation is safe. However, the hazards increase if normal operating conditions are deviated from such as:
- Age and usage
- Modification of the Lithium batteries and/or configuration of the vehicle
- External damage or impact to Lithium batteries (e.g. accident/impact, mechanical and thermal stress, extreme vibrations, etc.)
- Electrical malfunction during charging and discharging
In the worst-case scenario, the above-mentioned conditions can cause a thermal runaway of the battery cells, which is a highly exothermic reaction creating toxic, flammable, and/or explosive chemical components.
The gaseous components generated, such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc. by the fire, and those created by cooling and extinguishing activities, such as hydrogen fluoride and other toxins, present an increased risk to fire fighters and building occupants, and can contribute to a high degree of environmental contamination and damage in the surrounding area.
Guidance
There are a number of factors that should be considered prior to and following the installation of electric vehicle charging units at your premises to ensure that the associated
hazards are adequately managed.
Click here to download 'Risk Insight: Electric Vehicle Charging'.
