A witness during a House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing Thursday called for new laws and money to fight electric vehicle fires.
Appearing before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, witnesses and lawmakers fretted about the ability to extinguish electric vehicle fires, which are caused mainly by the cars’ lithium-ion batteries. The problem is becoming more acute as the number of EVs on the road is increasing.
“We need to ensure that we are enacting legislation that the manufacturer of these electric vehicles prevent fires from happening,” said Dan Munsey, fire chief for San Bernardino County, California.
He added, “We need to make sure that we have access to funds to properly equip, and train and buy the tools and equipment needed to suppress these fires without putting our communities in danger.”
