Even if electric vehicles appear undamaged from the outside or continue to operate after a crash, there may be hidden damage to the high-voltage system and battery. This damage can create electrical, chemical and fire risks.
Thermal runaway may occur in battery cells after a crash; a fire may start hours or even days later. For this reason, the vehicle should not be started after a crash; it should be turned off, people should move to a safe distance and expert assistance should be sought. If unusual sounds, a sharp smell, smoke, excessive heat or leakage is observed, people should move away from the vehicle and call emergency services.
Why it matters
These warnings show that safety after a crash in electric vehicles cannot be assessed solely by the vehicle’s exterior appearance or whether it is operating. The issue is particularly relevant to drivers involved in crashes, people around the vehicle and experts who will respond, because problems with the high-voltage system and battery may not be detectable from the outside. The possibility that the fire risk may emerge after a delay makes the decision to move the vehicle away from the scene under its own power or use it again more complicated. Although the text sets out what to do when the specified signs are observed, it leaves open the question of how and by whom damage in vehicles with no visible signs should be assessed.