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Experts say hybrids pose no more danger than gasoline-powered vehicles—as long as rescue procedures are followed. (http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023717)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_TCH.jpgConsumer Report - July 2007

Toyota has sold more than 240,000 hybrid vehicles including the TCH shown and none have caused injury to rescuers, according to a Toyota spokesperson.

The increasing popularity of gasoline-electric hybrid-powered vehicles has brought safety concerns from some emergency responders, firefighters, and prospective buyers new to the technology. But those vehicles pose no greater threat than any other crashed car, according to manufacturers and safety experts.

Hybrids first went on sale seven years ago in America—starting with the 2000 Honda Insight—but fears of potential dangers related to the high-voltage systems have inspired a recent wave of news stories and fueled online bulletin-board discussions. Concerned groups have focused on the possible dangers associated with the systems used to power the vehicles, questioning the risks the electric components might pose in the event of an accident.

The hybrid vehicles offered by Ford, Honda, Lexus, Toyota, and Mercury-whose Mariner twin to the Ford Escape is now available as a hybrid-run on a combination of electric power and a conventional gasoline engine. While their overall designs differ, they all use a large battery pack to energize an electric motor (or motors) sharing drive duties and space with a gasoline engine. It is that battery and the high-voltage cables routed under the passenger compartment connecting it to the motor(s) that cause the greatest concern.

Some emergency responders have raised questions about the likelihood of battery explosions or leaks, with the leading concern being electrocution hazards if high-voltage cables are exposed to bare metal, passengers, or rescuers. As more manufacturers plan to add hybrid models to their lineups, scrutiny on this latter issue has been increasing … http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023717

Thanks Rick!

This is an issue that may arise repeatedly. How about putting this article or a link to it somewhere on the website so we can find it easily and direct doubters to it?

This quote right here "As hybrid vehicles become more defined by powertrains rather than an exclusive body style (i.e. Insight, Prius), rescue workers should be mindful of badging to indicate whether a Civic, Escape, Highlander, or other model features a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain." leads me back to the" Ride of the Week" and the extra hybrid badge . Hmmm good idea and looks good too , doesn't it ?

I agree on maybe adding the info to the left menu or an article . Might not be a bad idea to even collect the manufacturers online tutorials/URL's on "Proper Rescue Procedures"

Concerned groups have focused on the possible dangers associated with the systems used to power the vehicles, questioning the risks the electric components might pose in the event of an accident ....

Some emergency responders have raised questions about the likelihood of battery explosions or leaks, with the leading concern being electrocution hazards if high-voltage cables are exposed to bare metal, passengers, or rescuers.
Who? Where? Why? And why now after so many years of hybrid experience?

As an emergency responder, I have little sympathy for these responders and "concerned groups," whomever they are. Instead of whining to the press and on web forums, they should seek to become better informed and better trained, information for which has been available from manufacturers and vehicle rescue trainers for years. The guy from Miami Beach has it right.

There are substantially greater risks to responders at wrecks, including unstable vehicles, fuel leaks, and undeployed air bags -- which have injured rescuers when deploying during an extrication.

Anyone has only to go to http://firehouse.com/extrication/hybrid/
and read the various manufacturers' ERGs that are pointed to
there. [I also give that link in my training slides.] There is
no reason for first responders to offer any of these excuses.
.
_H*

Toyota has sold more than 240,000 hybrid vehicles, and none have caused injury to rescuers, according to spokesman Wade Hoyt.

That about sums it up.

Harry

When is someone going to say something like terrorists use the battery pack as a weapon? :rolleyes:

I can't see how a hybrid presents any additional hazard. The article states that first responders should know not to sever the HV cables. Shouldn't they similarly know not to sever fuel lines, which are probably harder to spot? Sure, fuel lines don't potentially arc with the body structure like HV cables could (if live), but fuel spilling at an accident scene seems equally dangerous.

Sounds once again like a touch of anti-hybrid hysteria. --RN

The article does mention that the current manufacturers cared about the issue of high voltages in regards to emergency personnel. Sleeving or painting the HV conduits in orange is a pretty good start as they really stand out especially the vehicle is overturned. However, many accidents don't always cause the car to be flipped up and even though the HV lines run along the middle of the vehicle is is possible for these to be a problem in case of a side collision and the emergency crew have to cut through.

At this point, I believe it is time for federal regulatory agencies to step in and take the current "standards" and turn them in minimal safety requirements for other manufacturers who may enter the HEV market in the future.

On another note:
My complaint about the Civic Hybrid is that in this situation it can still be confused with their gas-only siblings unless it carries a few more explicit markers. Really, this is one of the reasons why I added side badges to my HCH-II's, since in the winter I change my wheels for the Winter rubber and there are fewer indicators that the vehicles have HV power lines.

Except for Hondas, all other hybrid vehicles carry the side badges especially those that share the outside shape with their more popular gas-only counterparts.

To each their own of course, but I still recommend that other HCH owners do the same... heck, if not for vanity, do it for the safety side of it (however small it may be).

Cheers;

MSantos

If the article were published by anyone other than Consumer Reports I would regard the article as suspect.

It turns out that that SUVs safety being greater than regular cars is a myth. A New York Times article from August 17, 2004 sheds light on this. In it the article states that federal government statistics showed that people are 11% more likely to die in SUVs than in regular cars.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/17/business/17auto.html?ex=1250481600&en=ab39f99261bb8c6e&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland