The growing number of electric and hybrid vehicles entering the Australian carparc means panel shops must ensure they are prepared to safely store and manage battery-powered vehicles, according to automotive expert Raffy Sgroi.
She said a recent fire involving 33 Chinese-made Jaecoo hybrid vehicles at Southampton docks in the United Kingdom should act as a timely reminder that Australia needs to strengthen its preparedness for incidents involving lithium-ion batteries.
Sgroi, who is a long-time adviser to governments on automotive safety and regulatory compliance and CEO of Car Mechanical Services in the ACT, said the industry must recognise that battery-powered vehicles can present different operational challenges when damaged or involved in a fire.
While stressing the discussion should not become an EV-versus-petrol debate, Sgroi said the industry must recognise that battery-powered vehicles can present different operational challenges when damaged or involved in a fire.
For collision repairers, the issue is particularly relevant as increasing numbers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids begin flowing through workshops for repairs following accidents and minor damage.
“Too much of the public discussion around EV fires has become focused on a simple question: which type of vehicle catches fire more often?” Sgroi said.
“We need to stop arguing about which burns more and start dealing with what is different when an EV burns.”
According to Sgroi, lithium-ion battery fires can generate extreme heat, require prolonged cooling and, in some cases, reignite hours or even days after appearing to be extinguished. These characteristics create unique considerations for businesses responsible for storing damaged vehicles.
As a result, workshops and collision repair centres should be reviewing their procedures for handling, isolating and storing damaged EVs and hybrids.
Sgroi said repair facilities need to consider whether they have appropriate training, equipment and protocols in place to safely manage battery-powered vehicles, particularly those involved in collisions.
The challenge is expected to become increasingly important as Australia’s transition to lower-emissions transport accelerates and more electrified vehicles arrive from both established and emerging manufacturers.
Sgroi noted that preparedness extends beyond workshops to include ports, transport operators, towing companies, storage yards and emergency services, all of which play a role in managing vehicles throughout their lifecycle.
She said Australia has a strong history of proactive road safety policy and should apply the same approach to the EV transition through investment in specialised training, updated storage and transport protocols, improved incident reporting systems and infrastructure reviews.
For repairers yet to encounter an EV in their workshop, the message is clear: it is no longer a question of if battery-powered vehicles will arrive through the doors, but when.
With EV and hybrid numbers continuing to grow, industry preparedness today could prove critical to ensuring workshop safety tomorrow.