General Motors is running training for firefighters in Texas on how to safely respond to crashes involving electric vehicles. GM is running training in Garland this week and will be in Austin next week.
"With more electrified vehicles on the roads, we can all expect to have more interactions with these vehicles," says GM Product Safety and Systems Engineer Joe McLaine.
The training includes information about technology and equipment firefighters can expect to see in an EV. McLaine says firefighters will also learn the best techniques to respond to a fire.
"Much of the techniques and procedures will be very familiar to them and be almost exactly the same," he says.
Among those procedures is explaining firefighters can safely spray water on a lithium-ion battery.
"We're very excited to get this information out there and dispel much of the misinformation people are, unfortunately, getting from social media," McLaine says.
The training also shows the shade of orange adopted as an industry standard to show high voltage wires and cables. Firefighters will also learn the most likely areas to see high voltage equipment.
"We don't want firefighters cutting those, pulling on them or unnecessarily interacting with those," McLaine says.
Tow truck drivers and people who work in salvage yards are also attending the training, which includes presentations, videos and demonstrations.
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