Electric vehicles have become an integral part of the modern urban landscape, but in critical situations their use is associated with particular difficulties. The main sources of ignition are overheating of batteries and incorrect operation of charging stations.

Perm firefighters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations demonstrated a high speed of response, extinguishing the fire of two cars in the parking lot in six minutes. However, the exercises revealed a serious threat: high-voltage batteries of electric vehicles, when mechanically damaged, are prone to short circuits. This process is accompanied by the release of heat and smoke, and can end in an explosion.

The use of powder fire extinguishers and foam in the later stages of ignition of electric vehicles may be ineffective. The powder can form an insulating layer that prevents water from penetrating and exacerbates the overheating of battery elements. Foam, although capable of suppressing open flames, cannot always reach the internal cells of the battery, where thermal runaway processes continue.

That is why a significant amount of water is required to finally extinguish an electric vehicle fire, providing effective cooling of the entire battery. Water penetrates between the elements, dissipating heat and preventing re-ignition. Often, thousands of liters of water are required to completely stop the processes occurring inside the battery.

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