As EVs and charging stations become more common in Alabama and across the nation, there is a need for first responders to be better equipped and prepared to respond to emergencies involving EVs and, more specifically, lithium-ion batteries. The Alabama Fire College is working to ensure that first and second responders in Alabama are trained on how to properly deal with battery-related emergencies.
Lithium-ion batteries are not just powering conventional vehicles, they are now common in everything from cordless power tools to bicycles, scooters, and hoverboards. Unlike EVs, many of these smaller products are imported from overseas without undergoing safety testing and certification, and the resulting fires can be devastating.
By State Senator Gerald Allen, R-Northport