Combating electric vehicle fires: Innovative Solutions at The Emergency Services Show
The best ways to tackle the growing problem of electric vehicle (EV) fires feature prominently among topics explored in the Innovation Theatre at The Emergency Services Show (ESS) and co-located Emergency Tech Show at the NEC, Birmingham from 19-20 September. A host of new preventative and firefighting solutions for EV fires, as well as lithium battery fires in e-scooters, e-bikes, vapes and other electronic devices, are also being demonstrated on the exhibition hall floor and Outside Area.
In What have we learned so far about lithium-ion battery fires? Professor Paul Christensen, Chair of Pure and Applied Electrochemistry at Newcastle University and Senior Advisor to the UK National Fire Chiefs’ Council will give an overview of the main hazards of lithium-ion battery fires. These include toxic gas, vapour cloud explosion, rocket-like flames and rapid fire spread. He will go on to cover fire suppression methods and lay out standard operating procedures for this emerging threat.
Paul Trew, Technical Advisor at the Institution of Fire Engineers, is joined by James King, Chief Commercial Officer, LifeSafe Technologies in a session entitled Thermal runaway: The burning issue with electric vehicles. Delegates will be taken through the step-by-step process of thermal runaway within lithium-ion batteries before learning more about the latest products being used to combat this type of fire.
ESS Exhibitors with solutions for EV fires include:
Emergency One (Stand G190 and OS10) will demonstrate its E1 Tactical Suppression System for cooling batteries from an EV fire and E1 EV Submersion Unit for EV batteries.
Venari (B130 and OS190) will showcase its Vanquish lithium-ion extinguishing unit to prevent reignition and thermal runaway of EV batteries.
FireWise UK Learning Academy (OS128) will be demonstrating its training courses for EVs and alternatively fuelled vehicles.
Vimpex (E164) will be showing the VLITEX EV Fire Blanket as well as the Emergency Plug, an EV Safety Plug
Fire Containers (OS168) will showcase its Electric Vehicle Containment Unit (EVCU), the world’s first mobile self-sufficient unit to deal with EV incidents.
Angloco (K200 and OS20) will showcase its reusable car fire blanket suitable for all electric, hybrid, petrol and diesel vehicles.
Cemo Safe Storage (D196) will be showing its new range of solutions for the storage, charging and transporting of lithium batteries.
Padtex Insulation will showcase its single and multiple use fibreglass car fire blankets for suppressing EV battery fires.
For combating solar panel fires, Jactone (M176) will be showing its PVSTOP solar Panel Block Out, the world’s first and only solution for ‘switching off’ PV and making them safe in an emergency.
As more emergency services switch to electric and hybrid vehicles, Jason McComb, CEO of The Association of Vehicle Installers will look at how this is impacting installers and show how electric and hybrid power is driving innovation throughout vehicles in Vehicle installations in the electric vehicle era.
In Range anxiety, and how the National Highways can help you, Andy Butterfield, Operations Customer Service Director at National Highways looks at new challenges EVs are presenting for road safety and the changes in approach required to reopen roads and recover vehicles.
The risk of EV charging fire, explosion and pollution are being widely ignored according to Graeme Warnell, Director – EV-EXBOX who covers these issues in a session entitled The need for responsible EV infrastructure design to manage public safety, fire and environmental risks.
Among other emerging technologies covered in the Innovation Theatre are an update on Hybrid Connex, the digital ambulance of the future pilot project, the next generation of automated external heart defibrillator, the future use of robots and drones, how data and technology is being applied across UK fire grounds and innovations in police and first responder uniforms.
Bringing an air of James Bond to the show, Rowan Poulter, Jet Suit Pilot at Gravity Industries will show how her company is working with mountain rescue teams to revolutionise medical response times in remote and challenging environments using jet suits.
In the new Emergency Tech Keynote seminar programme, attendees will join thought leaders and discussion panels to examine the unique challenges facing today’s increasingly tech-focused emergency services. They can expect to gain valuable insights and receive practical guidance from these CPD-accredited sessions.
Additional CPD seminar theatres at The Emergency Services Show include the Lessons Learned Leaders’ Summit, the Policing Theatre, Resilience & Recovery Theatre, and the Health & Wellbeing Theatre covering physical and mental health. The College of Paramedics will once again offer its popular CPD workshops on both days of the show. No pre-booking is required and everyone attending these seminar sessions can receive CPD certificates from CPDMe, our seminar accreditation body.
Entry to the show and parking at the NEC are both free. The NEC is linked to Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport and is directly accessible from the UK motorway network.
To register and for more information about The Emergency Services Show 2023, visit www.emergencyuk.com
For The Emergency Tech Show 2023, visit www.emergencytechshow.com