The recent incident involving an electric big rig that caught fire on I-80, leading to sixteen hours of firefighting efforts and extensive highway closures, raises serious concerns about the safety of the growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) on California’s roads.
Has Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature truly assessed what a fully electrified trucking system would entail and the potential impacts? What if this accident had occurred in San Diego, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, or another densely populated city, shutting down critical thoroughfares for hours? Could this state afford road closures lasting 16 hours, with 8-9 of those hours affecting both directions? What about the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses due to the toxic fumes released by the fire?
The dangers these vehicles pose to public safety and the environment cannot be ignored. Have California’s leaders fully examined the short- and long-term environmental risks of the toxic fumes released during these battery fires?
We all know that accidents happen. Yet, without a clear plan or an effective solution for rapidly extinguishing an electric vehicle battery fire—beyond the current method of letting it burn through its various cells—the environmental and economic consequences will be severe.
This situation highlights the unique challenges that first responders face when dealing with electric vehicle fires. Such fires require either specialized dry chemicals or an enormous amount of water—up to 40,000 gallons in some cases—to extinguish.
The recent fire involving a Tesla big rig exposed the state’s lack of preparedness and inadequate protocols and underscored the significant risks, including the release of toxic fumes that pose a severe inhalation danger and cause prolonged highway shutdowns.
The State must address these critical questions: what will happen when our roads are filled with electric vehicles? How many more highways will be shut down as California struggles to manage the unique dangers posed by EV battery fires? Is there a solution to mitigate these risks, or are we heading toward a future where such incidents become more frequent, endangering lives, causing widespread disruptions, and inflicting long-term environmental damage?
As the Governor and legislature continue their rapid push toward electrification, they must also prioritize instituting the necessary protocols and tools to ensure the safety of all road users and the readiness of our first responders to handle these complex and hazardous situations.
