The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has just announced a partnership with GM and OnStar to provide electric vehicle emergency training for first responders, and kicked off the training series.
The announcement was made at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire-Rescue International Conference in Chicago where GM and OnStar demonstrated emergency techniques on the Chevy Volt.
The training program is funded by the US government Recovery Act and will consist of a series of training courses. The NPFA will also be reaching out to other automakers that are producing electric cars.
“With the Chevrolet Volt and other electric vehicles about to hit the streets, it is important to know that first responders are trained and ready to respond,” said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s senior project manager for the initiative. “First responders have a long history of successfully adapting their response to new automotive technologies in order to protect the public as well as themselves.”
“This collaboration gives us an opportunity to extend our electric vehicle training and education program giving our nation’s first responders a platform to learn more about this new era of automotive transportation,” said Chevrolet Safety Director Gay Kent.
Chevrolet and OnStar are helping to produce the series of online courses and videos which will be used in instructor-led courses. The objective is to ensure first responders know how to deal specifically with EVs and the Volt in particular during emergency situations such as crashes and fires.
The first kick-off three-hour presentation took place at the conference and included an extraction demonstration using an actual Chevrolet Volt. Key points such as where to cut the high strength steel in an extraction were highlighted.
Other items included in the presentation were how to power down the 360-v high voltage systems in an emergency and how to fight a battery fire (with water not dry chemicals). It was also noted that OnStar will transmit the advent of a Volt crash to the OnStar command center so that first responders could be advised the crash involves an electric car.
And, to sadden yourself a little, you can watch this video of firemen slicing up a perfectly usable Volt:
Source (GM) and (GreenCarCongress)
+9
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:21 am)Bravo on this.
The saddest thing that could happen is if an innocent first responded got electrocuted to death.
Our First Responders should have everything they need at their disposal. These people are our everyday heroes.
They put their own lives on the line to save a stranger.
I have just as much respect for them as I do our soldiers.
-21
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:23 am)(click to show comment)
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Aug 30th, 2010 (7:24 am)Good job.
Hate to see that volt dismantled though! Any chance they could send it to me at a major discount?! I have a welder!
+7
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:29 am)I assume you are joking, but I will answer anyway.
Accidents happen all over the place. Tolls, railroad crossings, drunk drivers, icy conditions, etc.
It is necessary for our first responders to be well trained in everything they might need.
+5
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:29 am)My father was a first responder in the City of Detroit for 25 years. It is good to see GM producing the needed training so first resopnders can do their job safely.
Take Care,
TED
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:35 am)I sure hope that isn’t Lyle’s Volt…
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:37 am)I know a lot of first responders are worred about EVs because of the high voltage involved.
Two years ago I was chatting with one of our assistant fire chiefs about EVs and he was all against them, for this very reason.
+6
Aug 30th, 2010 (7:40 am)They have a right to be nervous. This is why this education plan is so important.
EVs are coming. I think they are beyond stoppable now. Our First Responders might as well learn how to deal with them.
+3
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:04 am)Excellent video. How brave of GM to allow footage of a VOLT being demolished. Since test models cannot be sold, this type of dismantling is preferred over the car crusher. Congratulations GM on making safety a primary goal.
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:10 am)Oh, I never thought about that.
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:23 am)Its not just electrocution that one has to worry about, and probably not the biggest concern. Lithium Batterys can be very explosive (eg. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3o_2mwRPdw). Heat triggers this reaction and the Lithium Polymer Battery “vents with fumes” until consumed. These fumes are toxic (some poisonous) and can reach temperatures of 1400 to 1600 degrees F. Incidentally, each cell in the pack will explode individually, and there are many many cells in an EV or EREV. Cells often blow in series, sometimes several seconds apart. For standard cells the spent casings have been found as much as two hundred yards away after the fire. Then again there is also a tank partially full of gas under pressure. Training people how to manage these is important. One bad fire/explosion story could hurt the industry.
+4
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:25 am)Dude! They just made the first convertible Volt!
Seriously though, I met a Tesla owner in the CA central Valley 200 miles south of SF at a Shell on I5 charging up happily, and he said only one had ever been totaled that he knew of and the passenger walked away.
+3
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:36 am)Ya, but I don’t think the safety of the passenger is a concern here.
It’s the rescuers. But it is nice to know someone could walk away from a totaled Tesla.
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:48 am)=================================
And I hope this is not the first Volt that was supposed to be sent to Ohio!!!!!
I am glad that GM is doing this right………………
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (8:53 am)Haven’t we seen this before? The picture associated with the article looks awful familiar. The whole thing gives me Deja Vue.
Aug 30th, 2010 (9:07 am)The transition to electrified transporation begins…
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Aug 30th, 2010 (9:25 am)And patiently as well?
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Aug 30th, 2010 (9:33 am)Let’s hope none of the Early Adopters get to meet First Responders.
Aug 30th, 2010 (9:37 am)Ha ha. Yeah, if he had a flat battery then very patiently. But it doesn’t take any longer to charge a Roadster after 10 miles than it would a Volt. IOW the charge time per mile would be the same. Maybe he was just topping off as he had some coffee.
I’ve seen pics of a couple of rearenders on the freeway. The cars looked horrible but probably nothing too life threatening. However, numbers being numbers, unfortunately it’s only a matter of time before someone in a Volt or a Raodster gets in a serious accident. Given the small number or Roadsters you’d expect to see this in the Volt first.
Aug 30th, 2010 (9:39 am)Thats great that they are getting much needed training. But I think an EV after a crash is still less dangerous that a ICE car with a highly flammable tank full of gasoline just waiting to explode.
+3
Aug 30th, 2010 (9:44 am)I think the difference is the first responders know where the dangerous stuff is in an ICE vehicle.
They now need to be educated on where not-to-cut.
If the Volt is on fire, they could be standing in water while cutting through a high powered cable.
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (9:50 am)Most excellent!
Be well,
Tagamet
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:06 am)The old dude charging his Tesla was happy to talk to everyone that walked up to him. He talked to me about 20 min. Note that this Shell is about 200 miles from anything in a barren part of the Central CA valley, (search Harris Ranch Shell). He said the recharge takes about 3h. He was close to finished when I met him. His computer said he had 180 miles available at that time. His routine was to have a nice lunch and then just sit near his Tesla no. 60 holding court. He said if you run out of power you call Tesla and they send a tow. He said he could make the trip from SF to LA and charge at any campground. A very cool old dude, seemed like a college prof. Said he owned an EV1 until GM took it back and made it into a cube, with a wry smile.
The dude was definitely on his own schedule and very patient and comfortable with it. Meanwhile my wife back in the CRV is wondering “What the hell? Let’s go! We’ve got 5h of driving left to get back to SD!” I definitely admire the old guy for his cool attitude about the whole process.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:13 am)We know how to deal with the typical ICE. As new technologies are added to autos, we need the type of information that GM is providing. On our department, we now carry a computer on our primary rescue rig with software that show locations of airbags, presurized cylinders, high strength steel, fuel tanks, battery locations, etc — all the thing that can pose difficulty and/or danger during an extrication and/or fire.
Will be interesting to see if our next software update has information on the Volt.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:17 am)Here is a potential benefit of pure BEVs that I hadn’t considered.
I often find myself in traffic thinking that many of the drivers I’m watching could benefit from more patience (myself excluded, of course
). They would live longer, and I don’t mean because of being less likely to get into life-threatening accidents. People get wound up way too tightly when driving; enough to cause health affects. If driving a BEV causes drivers to take a generally more relaxed attitude, it is a good thing for everyone on the roads. Of course, “Your Attitude May Vary” …
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:18 am)Interesting. What was he charging from? They must have a 220V 50amp line there with a NEMA 15-50 outlet. Maybe for campers to plug into?
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:22 am)Here is a potential benefit of driving a pure BEV that I hadn’t considered.
I often find myself in traffic thinking that many of the drivers I’m watching would benefit from more patience (myself excluded, of course
). They would live longer; and I don’t mean because of being less likely to get into a life-threatening accident: People get far too wound up behind the wheel; enough to have health effects.
If driving a BEV promotes general patience on the part of the driver, it’s a benefit for everyone on the road. Of course, “Your Attitude May Vary.”
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:27 am)The only reason why we get wound up is because the guy in front of us is going to slow and won’t move over.
I got so sick of being frustrated by these idiots that I decided to become one myself.
Now I set the cruise and listen to audio books. I stay in the right hand lane and enjoy my commute home. And you are right, it is much less stressful.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:27 am)I wonder if EVs will eventually have a “fireman’s switch.” This would be a crude, mechanical switch located by the battery pack, designed to eliminate a path for electricity through the rest of the car. The firemen would have to carry some kind of long, non-conducting pole to easily open the switch (which would probably be located under the car). The end of the pole would be shaped to engage a switch designed not to be triggered by accident, and remain waterproof under road conditions; in other words, it would be a lot like a lock and key. If this sounds expensive, remember that such a switch need only be capable of one cycle. Maybe it would amount only to a loop of metal sprayed with waterproofing. A hook on a pole would be used to pull it out in the event of driver and passenger entrapment.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:31 am)All aspects of society need training and knowledge of electric cars. Especially first responders. GM is right in working with the firemen and others. Good job. Just too bad to see the Volt taken apart like that, but you have to do it to some Volts to advance knowledge and training.
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:43 am)I can tell you right now–I, for one, will never ever have that kind of patience. If my vacation involved sitting around for three hours while my car recharged, I wouldn’t go on vacation. I don’t even like driving places that are three hours away. (Although I’ve done it.) But six hours transit time? Each way? I’d rather stay home.
It’s great for him that that guy doesn’t mind sitting there, but I would.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:47 am)You’re right; this subject has been treated here before. I don’t recall if the First Responder Training reported earlier was for the Volt specifically, or one of the other soon-to-be-released EVs.
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:47 am)Good question. I’ve noticed photos of preproduction Volts (or at least Volt mules) with easily- reached, large red/orange switches near the driver to do just that. Although I don’t now, I’d hope GM provides some type of large switch, perhaps located ahead of the shift lever in the open area under the center console, as an emergency cutoff in all production Volts.
BTW, this is one reason the main battery is centered side-to-side & front-to-back and as low in the chassis as possible (obviously, excellent weight distribution and a very low cg are other reasons). It’s also a reason to use conventional 12V harnesses for all accessories — why run a dangerous 360V around the doors, to windshield wipers, etc to power door locks, windows, etc when it’s not necessary?
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (10:50 am)Thought for the Day:
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:02 am)You have; the first article was posted back on June 2nd to advise of the upcoming conference.
http://gm-volt.com/2010/06/02/chevrolet-launches-nations-first-electric-car-training-program-for-first-responders/
In that report, the steps taken by GM to insure passengers of a Volt will be safe were reported.
“The Chevrolet Volt’s safety features include safeguards before, during and, thanks to OnStar, after a crash. Before a crash, the vehicle’s technology helps the driver stay on track with an antilock brake system, Stabilitrak and traction control. Additional crash avoidance features include daytime running lamps and hands-free calling capability through OnStar and Bluetooth. During a crash the Volt can reduce injuries with safety cage construction, sensors, crush zones, eight air bags standard and safety belts. And after a crash Chevrolet Volt has the added protection of OnStar which, in certain types of collisions, uses built-in vehicle sensors to automatically alert an OnStar Advisor who is immediately connected into the vehicle and can request emergency help to be sent to its location.” Also, over 50 crash tests wre performed to evaluated safety performance.
Today’s report brings us up to speed with what transpired at this IAFC conference held August 24th – August 28th. This report gives us commentary by Jeff Johnson, President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Mark. w. Light, CEO of the same organization; Richard F, Duffy, member of the International Association of Fire Fighters; and Carmen Benavides, Director of Safety at Chevolet, who commented in the earlier report. The convention was held “with more than 500 exhibitors and 14,000 attendees, to specialized conferences focusing on hazmat, EMS, wildland and volunteer/combination officers.”
For more information, check these links out:
http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=115#exhibSpon
http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/IAFC/fri10/public/MainHall.aspx?ID=296&sortMenu=101000
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:09 am)I never understood the emotional response when it comes to cars that you don’t own; especially a PPV. And new cars at that!
No one has personally owned the car, or had fond memories inside of it. It was made as a PPV to do its job and done its job it has. Now if it were a car with a long and prestigious history then, maybe I might understand that.
Either way as I said when the video of the first responders came out, I’m just glad GM is taking all necessary precautions with the volt.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:10 am)LauraM. some things are meant for patience.
But I’m with you here. Sitting in traffic for 3 hours, and charging the battery for 3 hours, are the same thing to me. I like to drive across country whenever I get the chance, but I do hate waiting and doing nothing. Pure BEVs are not ready for prime time…and here starts the back and forth argument with some people here.
-9
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:15 am)All the VOLT needs now to back it up is a nice VAT tax or maybe Some obscure Healtcare tax for battery disposal. Nice there is training for the emergency reponders but I can’t help but wonder about the poor people driving the volt? What chance do they have during an electrical ‘event’? Lets see the response should be something like this: All safety precautions have been assessed by the government rating people and has been found not pose no threats to the occupants. bla bla bla….
How about a straight forward energy tax? I know if the electrons are separated as coming from a windmill vs. a nuclear power or coal (at the outlet in our homes) it would be less expensive to complete a charge. OMG! How would you know if an electron was generated by wind, nuclear or coal? I had a phone call asking if I would pay more for energy generated by a windmill? I can’t believe the stupidity. Americans are so stupid. We are the laughing stock of the world. Signed Not A Sheeple.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:18 am)Sounds like you are a fireman, DWV! Has your department scheduled the online video training that GM and OnStar made to train your fellow firefighters? A round off applause for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the IAFF, the IAFC, and the NENA. And thank you for your service to the traveling public!
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:19 am)Hi #29 Jackson: My experience with rotating machinery supervisory control (SC) circuit design – there’s must be a circuit disconnect. That we called ‘safety unload’. I’ll bet with VOLT there’s at least an equivalent.
Now my circuits disconnect were switched in auto by status or could be enabled manually. In an EV, I would think there’s potential difficulties with both auto and manual. So while the need for disconnect appears obvious, somewhere there’s gots to be a spec.
Lyle please inform those first responders my truck is available.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:38 am)For those interested in more details about a totaled Tesla Roadster, I did a quick Google and came up with this 100mph doozy:
http://www.wreckedexotics.com/articles/012.shtml
And another at http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1037103_tesla-roadster-toyota-prius-vw-touareg-crash-in-denmark Somewhat ironically, a Prius was also involved in this one.
join thE REVolution
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:59 am)Big news guys! – http://jalopnik.com/5625482/
New Fuel Economy Window Stickers Chock Full ‘O Numbers
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:10 pm)That is outstanding! And no doubt the focus of tomorrow’s post. Based on the samples shown, it looks like the VOLT will, in fact, get a fair comparison to a conventional hybrid car, and it will be easier to explain to the ‘average joe’ how the EREV design uses less gas per year than the P…US that ‘you know who’ is going to try and convince us (ad nausium) that no matter what, it is still better.
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:17 pm)The “dollars saved” over five years is a good start. Not sure most people can think five years out but they won’t for sure unless it’s in their faces.
I don’t think anyone looking for an EV cares much about a P..us. The attraction is about the drive train and the P..us is just a gasser with an electronic assist. But the MPG numbers won’t hurt for sure.
I think your biggest issue selling is going to be that the Leaf is less expensive and is eligible for the HOV lane sticker.
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:19 pm)Jackson,
Much like most HEVs there is a manual “service disconnect” device on the Volt, located under an easily removable panel in the center console. However most First Responder training will tell them to avoid any contact with the HV cables or battery storage area while they a) try to insure the IGN sw is OFF and b) disable the 12Volt system, usually by cutting 1 or more BLACK 12V battery cables under the hood. GM labels these cut points with a yellow label that carries a red fire hat symbol at the “cut point”.By permanently interrupting the 12V power flow the control circuitry that opens and closes the high voltage contactors is rendered inoperative and there should be no high voltage battery power leaving the battery box.
Probably the most dangerous issue is if the battery storage box has been breached. However the fully shrouded center tunnel mounting of the battery box on the Volt, combined with extensive use of ultra-high strength steel in the rocker and floor pan areas make the Volt’s battery box one of the safest designs ever.Below is a photo of a Volt after a frontal (barrier) crash test used to varify compliance with various FMVSS208 standards. Note the battery box (the obvious orange colored T-shape in the center) has not incurred any damage, intrusion or engagement. Similar impressive results were detailed during standardized “side” impact scenarios.
HTH
WopOnTour
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:20 pm)Hmmmmmm…… A Prius runs into two stopped cars at full speed. Another confirmation of the general intelligence of your typical Prius driver! (Only kidding only kidding).
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:28 pm)I have no problem selling a Chevrolet VOLT against a Nissan LEAF. My wife is driving a Nissan Altima now. Her view is: If they would put a LEAF powertrain into an Altima, and it can still go 100 miles (minimum) per charge, she would rather have that over a VOLT. The LEAF is just too small for her taste. The VOLT is still the best compromise for size+range+comfort formula… at least for her. And of course I always (try to) agree with her.
+2
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:37 pm)I agree. And at first glance, I like both the A, B, C, D overall rating AND the 5-year savings dollar amount —maybe the EPA & NHTSA aren’t as thick-skulled as many had at first thought!!!
Aug 30th, 2010 (12:46 pm)Pardon the OT, but I just had to thank Corvetteguy again in this current thread for his
terrific editorial refinement on the previous thread regarding the training and the display screens.
(/…back to work to work up the down payment).
Have a great day everyone!!
Aug 30th, 2010 (1:03 pm)Link is not working, but Statik has a thread up on as well, and a video as well from the E.P.A. explaining it all if you are interested:
http://nissan-leaf.net/2010/08/30/epa-puts-out-new-fuel-economy-labels-for-evs-and-erevs/
+1
Aug 30th, 2010 (1:06 pm)Link works fine for us, Bill R.
If someone has the ability to comment at Jalopnik, let them know (in that article’s comment section) that the #2 vertical image is broken. And unfortunately I think it’s the one of the four that those of us here will care the most about (gas + electric).
Edit: here it is from the EPA direct:
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/label/images/2010/labels-1-phev.jpg
And here’s the new EPA site!
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/
Labels in PDF form:
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/label/label-designs.pdf
Aug 30th, 2010 (1:07 pm)I’d think driving a Nissan would be grounds for divorce! LOL But isn’t the Volt about the same size as he Leaf? Couple of inches longer and half an inch wider doesn’t seem like much.
I’d think the bigger deal for most people would be the flexibility of the range extender. For technical types I’d think battery management and the ECVT would be differentiators. If you were selling these things in cold climates range would be a very big deal. SoCal not so much.
Ride and handling could be very different but we just don’t have many reports from people who have driven both under realistic conditions. The Leaf has the batteries under the seat so it’s set higher up. That gives it more the SUV driving position, which may be good or bad depending on our taste, but it probably compromises the handling a bit. Will be interesting to see.
Aug 30th, 2010 (1:08 pm)New post guys.
Aug 30th, 2010 (1:23 pm)Yup and Lyle fired out an email to all GM-volt members.
Aug 30th, 2010 (11:20 pm)First off, they have that already in the form of the battery contactor. Every hybrid already has one. If the air bags go off the battery is disconnected and there no longer is high voltage anywhere outside the pack.
Secondly, the fear here is way out of line compared to the danger. It is 360V, not 20,000V. You don’t need a hot stick for 360V. You can pee on the battery with one end grounded and in bare feet and it won’t conduct enough current to harm you.
Aug 31st, 2010 (6:28 pm)That is a very impressive photo of the Volt’s underside! Now we can see the small gas tank (light blue color) behind the orange T-shaped battery pack. And indeed it looks like it will hold less than ten gallons (38 liters). This point (just ahead of the rear wheels) is the safest location in any auto. My three front-wheel-drive GM autos have their normal sized gas tank at that location under the rear seat. My Buick was rear-ended in 1996 by a Ford van, and the trunk (with the spare tire) absorbed all the crash force when it crumpled, yet the rest of the body and the gas tank suffered no damage. All of the passengers and myself just suffered some neck pains from the backlash. GM is keeping this safety feature with the Volt, too.
Raymond
Aug 31st, 2010 (6:33 pm)What you can see is not all that is important. The Roadster has a heavy German vehicle “parked” on its roof!!! That is a very important safety factor, especially in a roll over. Not many vehicles can hold up their roof under the car’s own body weight, yet this Roadster held up one that could be heavier!
Raymond
Aug 31st, 2010 (11:44 pm)Great video.
DWV, I agree that rescuer training being provided concerning new tech is needed. You probably already know this, but don’t blindly trust the rescue guides. We cut a victim out of a GM SUV last night and our rescue guide was not accurate concerning the location of the cylinders for the side curtain bags. Fortunately, our SOGs are to peel and inspect before cutting. It looks like the position changed late in the same model year. I am trying to find out more…
WoPOnTour,
in last nights wreck, the impact was sufficient to separate the passenger side of the vehicle body from the frame. The ICE and transmission where partially ejected out the bottom of the vehicle. Had it been a T-Battery, it would have seen significant forces. That said, the vehicle did an outstanding job of protecting the occupant. Squishy on the outside, solid around the passenger compartment.
I understand that the Volt geometry is designed specifically to protect the battery and is quite probably markedly different than the vehicle that we dismantled last night. However, eventually, responders will have to deal with damaged battery casings.
Personally, after going through recent training provided by a national auto-body association in partnership with Holmatro, Hurst, and Amakus, I would rather deal with a battery than a gas tank any day.
Thanks for the info.
Regards.