The Safe Solution to Storing At-Risk Electric Vehicles. The Firebox is a patented containment and isolation storage system for damaged electric vehicles susceptible to fires for tow companies, impound lots, auto repair centers, collision shops, and auto auctions. Vigilance regarding the potential fire hazard is paramount when storing compromised EV’s, not only to curb additional property damage but also to safeguard the environment and public from potential harm. Fires can erupt immediately upon impact in an electric vehicle accident; however, endless incidents unfold long after the battery system sustains damage. Extensively documented, thermal runaway can manifest hours, days, or even months following the initial car collision.
What is Thermal Runaway?
While all electric vehicles are prone to fires, those damaged in accidents are particularly vulnerable. Electric vehicle fires most frequently originate from accidents that compromise the primary battery system, initiating the hazardous process known as thermal runaway. This phenomenon, inherent to lithium-ion batteries in EVs, involves the lithium-ion cells spiraling into an unmanageable, self-heating condition. The resultant escalation in temperatures leads to electric vehicle fires blazing at formidable intensities, reaching between 4,000 to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Comparatively, the typical gasoline-powered vehicle burns at around only 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why the Firebox?
Currently, tow lots, auto auctions, repair shops and collision centers lack the necessary infrastructure for safely storing compromised electric vehicles. Traditional measures like concrete barriers to contain potential EV fires and minimize property damage prove very insufficient. While distancing an EV by 50 feet or installing concrete barriers may reduce the risk of fire spreading to nearby vehicles or structures, it fails to address containment of hazardous chemicals released into the air or drained into the ground. Also, unlike heavy and static concrete barriers, the Firebox can easily be moved around the yard as needed, making accommodations for added space and better organization of the parking lot or tow yard on demand.
Combating an active EV fire with conventional firefighting methods proves futile due to the extreme heat they generate. Alternatively, allowing the fire to self-extinguish poses grave risks, including the release of toxic gasses and contaminants harmful to both human health and the environment. Prompt extinguishment is imperative to prevent such hazardous substances from reaching nearby neighborhoods or vulnerable areas like school playgrounds, underscoring the critical need to act swiftly in containing EV fires.
Additionally, utilizing the Firebox will positively impact your business monetarily while mitigating your risk and liability. It presents an economical solution to the rapidly expanding environmental challenges and fire containment demands faced by the automotive and emergency service sectors. With the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles on our roads, it's imperative to address their distinct handling requirements. Providing this specialized service not only meets those needs but also opens up lucrative revenue streams for companies tasked with storing at risk electric vehicles.
How it works.
Place the at-risk electric vehicle into the Firebox. The Firebox is wide enough for a rollback car carrier bed to fit in the box, allowing for the unloading of the vehicle directly into the box. Alternatively, the Firebox is equipped with a 12,000 lb electric winch to load the EV into the box, if needed. Simply secure the doors and the EV is now safely secured for storage.
Observe for thermal runaway. Upon recognizing thermal runaway, immediately call 911 and dispatch the fire department. Utilizing the water hose ports, the fire department will begin quickly flooding the Firebox. Only limited water volume is required to sufficiently submerge the high-voltage battery system and begin cooling the batteries. The fire should be extinguished within minutes of the fire trucks arrival.
Dispose of the contaminated water. The Firebox is completely contained and does not allow any leakage of the contaminated water. It is equipped with an easily accessible evacuation port. Simply call your respective local remediation company to pump out and dispose of the contaminated water.
Benefits to your business.
Maximize Storage Fee Revenue: Increase opportunities to generate additional revenue through enhanced storage fee structures. Specialized services command a premium price. It is common to charge $150-$250 per day for isolation and storage of EV’s.Strengthen Competitive Edge: Boost your chances of securing contracts with law enforcement and insurance companies.Improve Storage Flexibility: Use less space and facilitate easy relocation and maneuvering within storage areas. Simply move the Firebox with a forklift or loader to make more room in your lot.Safeguard Your Assets: Protect your personal property, business, and livelihood with enhanced fire security.Benefits to the Environment.
Reduce Toxic Airborne Contaminants: The Firebox effectively and quickly suppresses fires, significantly reducing the release of harmful pollutants into the air.Prevent Groundwater Contamination: By containing the contaminated runoff, the Firebox protects groundwater from hazardous chemicals.Reduce Water Usage: Containment systems require considerably less water to suppress EV fires, conserving a vital resource and reducing associated costs.Mitigate Health Risk!
Toxic Chemical Exposure: EV fires release over 100 harmful chemicals, including hydrofluoric acid (HF), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen chloride (HCl). These substances can cause severe respiratory issues, organ damage, or even death upon exposure. Heavy Metal Contamination: Fires can release heavy metals like nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), lithium (Li), and manganese (Mn), posing risks of long-term health effects such as neurological damage and kidney dysfunction if inhaled or absorbed. Prolonged Firefighting Risks: EV fires burn hotter and longer than traditional vehicle fires, often taking hours to extinguish. This extended duration increases firefighters' exposure to hazardous toxins and physical exhaustion, heightening health risks.Full Story
Zip’s is the largest retailer of automotive towing and recovery equipment in North America, and in recent years, Zip’s has been at the forefront of introducing products designed to handle electric vehicles safely. As you might be aware, there is currently no standardized procedure or equipment for towing, emergency roadside assistance, accident recovery, or safe storage of electric vehicles. Each of these services carries its own set of risks, with fire mitigation being of paramount importance. While all electric vehicles are prone to fires, those damaged in accidents are particularly vulnerable - a fact that is not widely understood by the general public. Automotive towing companies face significant challenges in mitigating the risks when recovering these vehicles. Upon towing an at-risk EV to their storage lot, these companies are advised to segregate it from other vehicles to avoid potential property damage. However, many storage lots are too small and congested, making it difficult to maintain the recommended 50-foot perimeter needed to protect other vehicles from the extreme heat of a potential EV fire. As a makeshift solution, some companies are now using concrete block barriers to contain fires. While this may seem adequate, it is far from a fail-safe solution.
Once an EV battery enters thermal runaway and ignites, the situation quickly becomes hazardous. Unfortunately, a common misconception is that the best course of action is to simply let the EV burn. However, this approach is neither safe nor environmentally responsible. The toxic gasses released from a burning lithium battery, including hydrogen fluoride and many other hazardous substances, pose severe risks to both human health and the environment.
Allowing these fumes to permeate the air, especially in proximity to residential neighborhoods or schoolyards, could lead to significant public health emergencies. The long-term environmental impact of these toxic emissions also cannot be ignored. Simply letting the vehicle burn is a short-sighted solution that fails to address the broader implications.
Conventional firefighting techniques, such as spraying large volumes of water from a safe distance, are largely ineffective when dealing with lithium-ion battery fires. The extreme heat generated by these cells is simply too intense for standard methods to extinguish. Moreover, this approach exacerbates environmental concerns. The toxic chemicals released during the fire not only pollute the atmosphere but also contaminate the groundwater when mixed with the runoff from firefighting efforts. This hazardous wastewater then requires specialized containment and disposal procedures, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation.
While this may sound like a sales pitch; coincidentally, we are just on the brink of introducing the first true solution for effectively managing EV fires while in storage or parking lots: the Firebox. This innovative containment system is designed to store compromised electric vehicles directly within a steel, watertight enclosure, providing comprehensive protection. The Firebox not only contains the intense heat and flames to prevent ignition of nearby vehicles or buildings, but it also captures the hazardous wastewater, preventing it from seeping into the ground.
When a compromised electric vehicle is stored in the Firebox and a thermal runaway event occurs, the tow lot operator should immediately call 911 to dispatch the fire department. Upon arrival, firefighters will quickly connect to the built-in water hose ports and begin flooding the Firebox. Unlike traditional methods that require vast amounts of water, the Firebox is engineered to efficiently submerge the high-voltage battery system with minimal water volume, rapidly cooling the batteries. As a result, the fire can be extinguished within minutes, significantly reducing both the risk and environmental impact. The next step is to simply call the respective local remediation company to pump out and dispose of the contaminated water.
The solution the Firebox provides is not just for tow lots. Every auto auction, auto dealership, auto repair facility, collision shop, parking garage and rental car lot must think about implementing this preventative piece of equipment in their business. Another benefit the Firebox provides for these applications is the flexibility it provides when organizing the car lot. The Firebox can be moved on demand with a forklift or loader to make more room in a certain area as needed.
While the Firebox offers a true solution for mitigating EV fires, it also brings to light a significant challenge: the increased costs associated with EV recovery, towing, and storage. These expenses must be absorbed by someone, and as a result, local towing companies are now forced to charge significantly more money for services involving EVs compared to conventional vehicles. This financial strain poses a major obstacle to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the marketplace.
Ultimately, the burden is likely to fall on insurance companies. But the question remains: Will they be willing to step up and absorb these additional costs? If so, how will this impact insurance premiums for vehicle owners? For insurance companies to maintain profitability, premiums may need to be adjusted significantly, raising concerns about affordability and accessibility for consumers.
To truly mitigate the risks associated with thermal runaway in electric vehicles, more effective strategies must be developed and implemented. These strategies should encompass both preventative measures and advanced containment solutions that prioritize safety and environmental protection. However, the automotive and insurance industries have yet to fully grasp the magnitude of the challenges posed by the increasing presence of electric vehicles on our roads. Without a comprehensive understanding and a willingness to adapt, the situation could quickly become untenable.
Anytime you are required to tow or transport a hybrid or electric vehicle that has been involved in a collision, fire, mechanical failure or a water related incident, you will need to call the ESA for a Risk Analysis at 1-855-372-7233.
This call should be made when you determine it safe before or during transport, or immediately after the vehicle is delivered to its destination.
During your call with the ESA, the Risk Analysis Agent (RAA) will ask you several vehicle specific questions, then text you a link to quickly upload pictures of the vehicle.
Your RAA will then give you instructions on how the vehicle should be stored. This may include isolating the vehicle, elevating a specific side of the vehicle to allow for water to drain out of a battery or clear the vehicle for normal handling.
The RAA will determine the vehicle’s risk level – a level green, yellow or red – based on the analysis specifics and ask that you place the designated Risk Analysis Placard sticker (RAP sticker) on the vehicle. This sticker allows you and others to later identify the vehicle's risk level for safe handling.
In some cases a second Risk Analysis is required between 20-24 hours after the initial call. Your agent will advise and the information is on the RAP sticker for reference.
The entire process will typically take between 10 and 15 minutes. To ensure liability mitigation and meet the current standards, every hybrid and electric vehicle requires a Risk Analysis to be conducted if it meets the criteria above.
