A deadly crash involving an electric car that killed four people in downtown Toronto has raised concerns about the dangers when things go wrong for EVs.
That includes whether people can easily extract themselves in the event of a fire, or how significant the fire risk is among the current generation of EVs.
Observers say these types of fires may draw media attention, but they aren’t that common — and that analysis of EV safety should focus on products and their components, and any resulting concerns.
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With so many details unknown about the Toronto crash, it’s unclear what the other passengers’ conditions were in the moments after, and whether they could operate the releases.
It’s conceivable, however, that a driver might have a better knowledge of a car’s workings than their passengers — and that could factor into how they react in the aftermath of a crash, said George Iny of the Automobile Protection Association (APA).
“It’s very unlikely, especially [as] a rear-seat passenger … that you would even know where the manual override is, certainly less so in a panic situation or if you’re injured,” said Iny.
His organization would prefer conventional door handles for these vehicles.
“The countervailing argument is that: ‘Well, if the vehicle is crushed partially after a collision, the door won’t open, anyway,” said Iny.
“There’s still something to be said in favour of an old, manual door handle that you can pull.”
Social media videos show the mechanical release could be difficult to find, especially in the rear of a car. In some models, like the Tesla Model X, a person has to pry open the cover of a speaker located on the side of the door and locate a wire to pull.
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Better protections needed
The APA’s Iny wants drivers better protected — including when it comes to battery fires.
He said that while the overall numbers of fires of this nature may be low, there’s a high sensitivity among automakers about the issue.
“We need to take advantage of that greater awareness or alertness right now, to step up our investigations and the responses, as well,” Iny said.