Experts Seek Effective Solutions for Responding to Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage System Fires at the TEEX Electric Vehicle and Stored Energy Summit

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) hosted more than 250 first responders and fire service experts from across the United States January 7-9 at the TEEX Electric Vehicle and Stored Energy Summit on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.
Speakers and attendees discussed their experiences with the challenges, preparation and mitigation efforts in effectively and safely responding to electric vehicle/energy storage system (EV/ESS) emergencies, which continue to increase across the country. The goal of the summit was to relay best practices and identify needs and unresolved issues related to EV/ESS fires.
“The intense heat, high-voltage cables, and toxic emissions make EV and ESS fires uniquely challenging for first responders,” said Gordon Lohmeyer, TEEX assistant agency director for strategic initiatives and business strategy. “Currently no extinguishing agent is fully effective on these fires, and reignition is a threat for hours or even days after the initial event. These issues are compounded by the increasing prevalence of Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries in EVs, micromobility devices, such as scooters and e-bikes, and energy storage systems,” he said.
One of the speakers at the summit was Chris Greene, a recently retired captain of the Seattle Fire Department, who created the first energy response specialty technical team to address energy emergencies in the city.
“First responders need to understand and train on what is different about energy incidents and how to address them, similar to the specialized training developed for hazmat teams that came into being in the 1970s,” Greene said. Using the term, “energy battleship,” Greene noted that energy hazards are not isolated to only Li-ion batteries, but also include energy substations, transformers, utility spaces, electric transit systems, solar panels, wind turbines, and more.
“In 2023, Li-ion battery fires were the leading cause of fires and fire-related deaths in New York City, with 150 injuries and 18 fatalities,” Lohmeyer said. “And Texas is the third largest state in ownership of electric vehicles. We must have a collaborative effort to work together, learn best practices and move the ball forward in solving this issue,” he said.
Last year, TEEX, along with its research partners, conducted a series of tests to determine the contamination produced by Li-ion batteries and its impact on first responders and their personal protective equipment (PPE). Researchers also measured the effectiveness of different PPE cleaning methods. The tests were conducted at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, and the results of the study were presented during the summit. The full report can be found here.

Other summit speakers discussed developing city energy codes and enforcement measures; how damaged Li-ion batteries are safely transported and recycled; the significant growth of battery energy storage system installations in communities and associated risk and safety issues; and the need for specifications for roadside safety hardware, such as highway guardrails, to be modified to accommodate electric vehicles, which are generally much heavier and have a lower center of gravity than gas-powered vehicles.
“We are all students and are learning more and more about this issue,” said Lohmeyer at the conclusion of the event. “TEEX will continue to keep first responder professionals and community stakeholders fully informed so they can develop their standard operating procedures and obtain the training they need to mitigate these emergencies in a safe and expeditious manner.” As a thought leader in public safety training, TEEX has published an EV/ESS informational website and developed a no-cost online course for first responders to identify the issues, challenges and current practices in preventing, preparing for, and addressing EV and ESS fires and related issues.
About TEEX
The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is an internationally recognized leader in emergency response training, workforce training and technical assistance. In 2024, TEEX trained more than 225,000 participants from every U.S. state and territory and 124 countries worldwide.
Major TEEX programs include Fire and Emergency Services, Infrastructure and Safety, Law Enforcement and Protective Services, and Business and Cyber Solutions. Additionally, through its National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (NERRTC), TEEX provides federally funded homeland security training and technical assistance for communities across the nation. The agency also sponsors the Texas A&M Public Works Response Team (TX-PWRT) and the Texas A&M Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) Urban Search and Rescue Team.