Electric Vehicles & New Technology Flashcards
What types of alternative fuels may be encountered at vehicle rescues?
- Diesel
- Bio-fuel
- Alcohol
- Flex fuel (E 85)
- Compressed natural gas (CNG) / LPG
- Hybrid
- Electric
- Jet
- Hydrogen
What are the different types of hybrid vehicles?
- Full hybrid: A full hybrid (FHEV) can run on just the combustion engine (i.e. diesel/petrol), the electric engine (i.e. power from batteries), or a combination. The Toyota Prius is the most commonly known example of this. A full hybrid is not plugged in to recharge; the battery is recharged by running the combustion engine. In a full hybrid, the battery only provides enough power for driving the car at slower speeds — in residential areas and cities, for example.
- Mild hybrid: A mild hybrid has an electric motor and combustion engine which always work together. An example of this is the Honda Accord Hybrid. Mild hybrids cannot run in just electric or just combustion engine mode; the engines/motors always work in parallel.
- Plug-in hybrid: In a plug-in hybrid, the electric battery is the primary power source for the car. Therefore it can typically run longer than full and mild hybrid vehicles on solely electric power. When the battery runs down, the internal combustion engine takes over.
Note that while all-electric vehicles technically don’t qualify as hybrids, there are some that come equipped with a small gasoline engine to provide a cushion when needed. When an electric vehicle runs out of power, the vehicle will need to be charged before it becomes operational again. These range extender hybrids utilize their gasoline engine to charge the battery or power the electric motor so that you’re not left stranded.
What is the voltage of battery packs in hybrids?
100 - 800 volts
For example:
* Ford Escape = 330 volts
* Toyota Highlander = 500 volts
What color are high voltage cables in electric vehicles?
Orange
What is a hybrid battery shutoff?
A switch that will disconnect the hybrid high voltage (HV) battery from the powertrain on a hybrid or electric vehicle. In an accident this is important since even with only mild damage, there’s a risk of current leaking from the HV battery into the metal chassis or frame, exposing occupants, rescue workers and first responders to potentially fatal electrical shocks.
How can you identify hybrid vehicles?
Badges are not required by law and are becoming increasingly uncommon. Therefore first responders must rely on other indicators that the vehicle is a hybrid. The presence of the following is such an indicator:
* Cooling vent on rear deck
* Battery vents on the floor of the back seat
* Fourth character in the VIN is a “C”
* Content of dashboard display
What is thermal runaway?
The effect of failing lithium ion batteries (LIB) is often a so-called thermal runaway, which is characterized by an exponential increase of the temperature inside the cell so that the rate of heat generation becomes faster than the rate of heat removal. This leads to an increase of cell internal pressure causing the opening of overpressure devices or bursting of the cell housing. As a result, hot, flammable gases escape and a fire starts. Because cells are densely packed, thermal runaway of one cell is likely to propagate to neighboring cells and eventually setting the whole battery on fire. The theory of thermal runaway and propagation of lithium-ion batteries is well understood and is caused by:
- Short-circuiting
- Mechanical stress to the EV battery from impact during an accident
- Overheating or poor cooling techniques
- Condensation and moisture in the EV battery pack
- A manufacturing defect
What is the 25 foot rule for hybrid smart keys?
Because the vehicle can hold a charge from capacitors that can cause it to start, remove the key to a safe distance of 25 feet away from the car.
What is important to remember when cutting a hybrid?
Only cut ABOVE the rocker panel. High voltage cables are run in the rocker panels.
What is the First Responder ID in electric vehicles?
What will cause a hybrid to shut down?
If any of the following occur:
* A fault in the electrical / computer system
* An airbag is deployed
* Submerged in water
How should you check for fire in battery packs?
Using a thermal imaging camera (TIC)
