On January 31, 2024, UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) invited Trinity Fire Products to take part in a “let it burn” session focused on electric vehicle (EV) fires. The goal was to gather real-world data on the types and amounts of gases released during an EV fire, along with heat release measurements. Everything was done with firefighter safety in mind.

Measurement stations were set up at spots that represent where firefighters would typically operate during an EV fire. This setup allowed the team to get a better idea of what first responders might be exposed to during an actual incident.

This burn was just the start. FSRI plans to run multiple tests throughout 2024 using different EV models to develop an average profile of gas emissions, heat release, and fire behavior. It’s part of a larger effort to understand what makes EV fires different and how best to deal with them.

Once enough data is collected, FSRI expects to start evaluating suppression tactics, possibly by the end of 2024 and into 2025. The goal is to figure out the safest and most effective ways to handle EV fires, which behave very differently from traditional car fires.

Invited in by FSRI, Trinity Fire Products is working towards innovating product design that will benefit firefighters across the country. As electric vehicles become more common, the fire service needs better information and updated tactics and products to stay safe — and this work is a major step in that direction.