Electric vehicle battery storage and isolation

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Electric vehicle battery storage and isolation - Information on the storage and isolation of batteries in electric vehicles

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Bennett31384		#1 Posted : 18 November 2019 08:05:37(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		I am looking for some advice on best practice when working with electric vehicle batteries. These are being used in buses and each battery is 500kg and are lithium ion type. We manufacture bus chassis and fit these before the vehicle is a complete rolling chassis. Storage: inside or outside because of the potential fire risk Damaged batteries: the fire fighting guidance I have received (from a fireman) is they let these burn as there is not an effective fire fighting medium. Do we need a containment area? Is there another approach we can take? If they are fitted to non rolling chassis we will struggle to move them. Works carried out around the battery: it is not inconcievable that we may have to carry out welding close to a installed battery, we would isolate the system and use a PTW. But is there any good practice with process/ signage etc Can anyone offer some sources of information or experts who can advise on the above, I have struggled to find anything substantial. Thanks Joe


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jmaclaughlin		#2 Posted : 18 November 2019 09:54:07(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		There are available fire extinguishers, Google Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Extinguishers. If a 500kg battery ignites you are very unlikely to be able to contain it, as you would have to find a way to contain it something like a skip to burn out/extinguish it. Unless you want to try and tow a (burning) bus out into the yard and then try to extinguish it, would have to work outside. Welding near to a battery ought to be a straight no, remove the battery first if possible. Have a read of:- https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion In all honesty you are going to struggle to meet the SFARP/ALARP threshold on this as it’s a new tech with a lot of energy stored in a small occasionally volatile container. In your shoes, would be reaching out to Telsa, explain your situation and asking what they do in terms controls, risk assessments, fire precautions etc etc. Good luck!

1 user thanked jmaclaughlin for this useful post.		SJP on 18/11/2019(UTC)
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Bennett31384		#3 Posted : 19 November 2019 08:20:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user		Thank you for your responses


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