EVs in the New Parking Garage?

 

The old and new Florence parking decks have produced endless discussions. We've only now learned of an important argument that has been taking place, one that may be already settled. The question: Is the current City policy the correct one?

Electric vehicles are not allowed in some decks. Why?

Electric vehicles (EVs) can potentially set parking decks on fire due to the risk of their lithium-ion batteries experiencing "thermal runaway" in certain situations, which can lead to intense heat generation, rapid fire spread, and difficult-to-extinguish fires, especially in confined spaces like parking garages; this is a growing concern as more EVs are on the road, and proper fire safety measures are crucial in parking structures to mitigate this risk.

Key points about EV fires in parking decks:
Thermal runaway:
The primary danger is the potential for a battery to overheat and enter a "thermal runaway" state, where it rapidly releases large amounts of heat, causing a fire that can spread quickly to nearby vehicles.

Toxic smoke:
EV battery fires produce highly toxic smoke due to the chemicals involved, posing a significant health hazard.

Difficult to extinguish:
Traditional firefighting methods may not be effective against an EV battery fire, requiring large volumes of water and specialized techniques to cool the battery down.

Confinement issues:
Parking garages are often tightly packed with vehicles, which can accelerate fire spread if an EV catches fire.

Charging station risks:
Faulty charging stations or improper charging practices can also increase the risk of an EV fire in a parking structure.

Yet the powers that be in Florence are currently allowing EVs in the new deck without specialized means to avoid/mitigate these fires. Perhaps it's simply a case of Andy being Andy...