Risk Minimisation of Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Traffic Infrastructures

How hazardous are substances that are released when a car catches fire? To simulate an electric car catching fire in a tunnel or underground car park,
4kWh battery modules were deliberately set on fire. Empa researchers monitored the experiment at Versuchsstollen Hagerbach (CH), an underground test site. The burning battery released enormous amounts of soot. The soot is deposited on walls and objects. This means: Disposing of the soot precipitation requires protective gear!
The pollution of the fire-fighting water was also analyzed. Under no circumstances should this water enter the ordinary sewage system. The researchers also examined how the soot is distributed in the tunnel, when a ventilation system is venting the smoke.
Details of the report can be found here.
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