GM revives program to coach first responders on EVs

General Motors stated it’s reviving a decade-old program within the United States and Canada to coach first responders on electrical automobiles.

The revamped program, named “EV First Responder Training”, will concentrate on hearth companies, and plans to show firefighters safely reply to incidents involving electrical and hybrid automobiles, GM stated Thursday.

Some firefighting strategies based mostly on gasoline-powered automobiles, comparable to puncturing holes in car hoods for water channels, could be harmful to carry out on EVs attributable to totally different element placement.

It additionally goals to fight misconceptions round EV batteries, comparable to water being harmful round lithium battery fires.

“Our primary goal is to provide key information directly to first and second responders,” Joe McLaine, GM world product security and programs engineer, stated in a press release. “This training offers unique material and hands-on experiences that can help increase responders’ awareness of procedures to help maintain safety while interacting with EVs during the performance of their duties.”

EV First Responder Training has its roots within the Chevrolet Volt. The hybrid was a brand new idea in 2011, and GM labored with first responders within the early 2010’s to make sure security.

The new iteration might be delivered in a 4 hour block by way of dwell displays, movies, animations and digital demonstrations.

GM spokesperson Stuart Fowle instructed sibling publication Automotive News curiosity is excessive.

“There’s just things that firefighters have learned over the years and gotten into their heads for gas vehicles that are just going to change,” Fowle stated. “I think there’s a big pent-up demand for something like this.”