4 ms·

Is there any reason to believe a DIY EV conversion is any more dangerous than significant modifications to vehicles with traditional combustion engines?

Animats 5y ago
Nobody knows where the battery disconnect is on some DIY car. Here's the first responder's manual for the Chevy Bolt.[1] Under the rear seat, which lifts up, there is a big emergency disconnect handle. Unlatch handle, pull handle up, pull out disconnect. NFPA has vehicle guides for first responders, and fire trucks presumably carry those in some form. [1] https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Training/AFV/Emergency-Response-Guides/Chevrolet/2022-Chevrolet-Bolt-EV_Emergency-Response-Guide_English.ashx https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Training/AFV/Emergency-Re...
- wolverine876 5y ago
  In accidents that require the fire department, it seems not common that you could get to the rear seat with enough freedom of maneuver to follow that procedure. No doubt that's been considered, so what am I missing?
  - Animats 5y ago
    Most likely use: pull disconnect before winching wreckage onto flatbed. On Teslas, there's a marked place to cut the power cables, rather than a disconnect switch.
DoingIsLearning 5y ago
The major difference (Apart from the electrocution risk when doing extractions) is that in an EV fire, Hydrogen Flouride can also be released, which is an uber nasty colorless gas. From what I was explained it is a grim mechanism, the gas reacts with water, forming a highly corrosive acid. In humans the gas reacts with the moisture in your eyes and your airway forming an acid and doing a massive chemical burn. You basically choke with burned lung tissue while going blind all at the same time. Gas detection was a big health and safety component in an EV charger company I worked for in the past.

4 ms·

Is there any reason to believe a DIY EV conversion is any more dangerous than significant modifications to vehicles with traditional combustion engines?

by CivBase 5y ago

Animats 5y ago
Nobody knows where the battery disconnect is on some DIY car. Here's the first responder's manual for the Chevy Bolt.[1] Under the rear seat, which lifts up, there is a big emergency disconnect handle. Unlatch handle, pull handle up, pull out disconnect. NFPA has vehicle guides for first responders, and fire trucks presumably carry those in some form. [1] https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Training/AFV/Emergency-Response-Guides/Chevrolet/2022-Chevrolet-Bolt-EV_Emergency-Response-Guide_English.ashx https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Training/AFV/Emergency-Re...
- wolverine876 5y ago
  In accidents that require the fire department, it seems not common that you could get to the rear seat with enough freedom of maneuver to follow that procedure. No doubt that's been considered, so what am I missing?
  - Animats 5y ago
    Most likely use: pull disconnect before winching wreckage onto flatbed. On Teslas, there's a marked place to cut the power cables, rather than a disconnect switch.
DoingIsLearning 5y ago
The major difference (Apart from the electrocution risk when doing extractions) is that in an EV fire, Hydrogen Flouride can also be released, which is an uber nasty colorless gas. From what I was explained it is a grim mechanism, the gas reacts with water, forming a highly corrosive acid. In humans the gas reacts with the moisture in your eyes and your airway forming an acid and doing a massive chemical burn. You basically choke with burned lung tissue while going blind all at the same time. Gas detection was a big health and safety component in an EV charger company I worked for in the past.