Description

Electric Vehicle Quarantine – Fire Protection for Damaged Electric Vehicles

Managing electric vehicles (EVs) and their batteries after significant accidents is challenging and controversial, primarily due to the risks associated with “thermal runaway.” Recently, automotive manufacturers have established guidelines to address these concerns.

Identifying a Potentially Damaged EV Battery

Signs that an electric vehicle battery might be damaged include:

• Reports of faults in the high-voltage (HV) system
• Significant damage, especially to the battery area or underbody
• Deployment of airbags
• A steady increase in or greatly elevated temperature (over 60°C) of the battery
• Unusual odors, or leaking liquids or smoke from the battery housing

It’s important to recognize that electric vehicles and HV batteries can self-ignite hours or even days after a mechanical shock or anomaly. This risk led to the establishment of Technical Quarantine Areas (TQAs) for fire protection.

Technical Quarantine Area (TQA)

A TQA provides a safe parking space for cars with potentially damaged lithium-ion batteries. It aims to prevent vehicle fires from spreading to nearby objects (other vehicles, buildings, etc.) and contains any leaking operating fluids that could harm the environment. The purpose of the TQA is to contain fires, not prevent them.

TQA Recommended Requirements

• Outdoor location with a sealed surface
• Fire detection system
• Compliance with fire protection specifications (EN 13501)
• Contaminated water containment
• 5-meter distance from each vehicle side

Vehicle Q-Container

The Q-Container is a compact, electric vehicle quarantine container. It simplifies the management of damaged or potentially damaged batteries and electric vehicles, preventing hazardous waste from contaminating the environment.

Key Benefits

1. Smart detection and protection 24/7
2. Space-saving design (reduces storage space by up to 90%)
3. Environmentally friendly
4. Certified to REI class standards
5. No building permit required
6. Customizable

Main Technical Specifications

The Q-Container electric vehicle quarantine meets all technical specifications required for TQAs. It functions like a shipping container, equipped with advanced detection and sealing systems to manage “thermal runaway” events. Its compact design can reduce the surface area of an open TQA by up to 90%, while still adhering to stringent fire protection standards (EN 13501). Additionally, the Q-Container effectively manages contaminated water, mitigating environmental risks.

Quarantine and Monitoring Process

The damaged and/or potentially damaged vehicle is placed inside the Q-Container electric vehicle quarantine, where it will be monitored in accordance with the manufacturer’s directives (normally 24–72h).

Extinguishing Capacity

Water has been proven by major fire experts and departments to be the most efficient and manageable medium for extinguishing and controlling fires in high-voltage (HV) battery packs and electric vehicles.