​Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of electrical vehicles which utilize lithium-ion batteries for power.  In the wake of increasing carbon emissions and skyrocketing fuel prices, our members have started investing in electric vehicles as part of their motor fleet.

While this trend is encouraging, it possesses new and unidentified risks associated with managing such vehicles.

We have recently released a new property conservation guideline 'Electric Vehicle Charging Areas' to help members incorporate good practices when installing EV charging facilities within their premises. 

According to Electric Vehicle Council, July 2023 report ' State of Electric Vehicles', 8.4 % of all new cars sold in 2023 so far have been EVs. This is more than a 120% increase compared to all of 2022.

Lithium-ion batteries, used in these electric vehicles, pose specific challenges when it comes to fighting fires. They can take a long time to control and extinguishment is not always complete. The battery's overall energy density can give rise to re-ignition, well after the initial fire is thought to be extinguished.

Managing the risks associated with EV charging stations

The guide provides general guidance regarding fire prevention and protection for electrical vehicle charging areas.

Location

Electrical installation

• Charging systems should be installed by a certified/authorised company.
• Electrical circuit should be dedicated to the chargers, separated from the general main, and fitted with circuit breakers and surge protection.

Inspection and maintenance

• Ensure that manufacturer instructions regarding usage and maintenance are followed.
• Complete and record regular inspections on the chargers and supporting equipment.
• On detection of any damaged or malfunctioning chargers, cables, connectors, etc., the chargers should be shut off, locked, and labelled as "OUT OF SERVICE" until it has been repaired and recertified.

Fire protection

• Ensure a complete fire strategy/pre-fire plan is in place, reviewed by, and agreed to by the emergency services.
• This plan should be practiced and updated at least annually.

Fire prevention

• The site and emergency plans should include the locations of all chargers, any electrical shut-off points, access routes, containment areas, etc.
• The electrical shut-off points should be marked and labelled. They should be remotely located from the charging areas they control.

Case study: Poorly maintained EV charger damages vehicle

It is vital that EV charging stations are appropriately maintained. Issues with charging stations and electric vehicles is an emerging concern, and LGIS is starting to see an increase in claims.

In this case a member of the public plugged their vehicle into a free charging station provided by the member. They alleged that the charger registered a phase error and caused damage to the on-board charger. Repairs to the vehicle where just over $3,000.

Following investigation of the claim is was discovered that the member was aware there was a fault with the charging cable. Due to the member having prior knowledge of the issue and failing to take steps to mitigate the risk the claim was settled.

Lessons from the case:

Members should ensure that a risk assessment is done prior to providing new services to the community. Any new service should only be provided once appropriate mitigation policies and procedures are implemented and understood by all staff responsible. The EV charging station guide provides advice on assessment for these high risk assets.

When the local government becomes aware on an issue it should be addressed as soon as practicable. In this example the charging station could have been marked as 'out of order' to make sure it wasn't used by the public until the issue had been fixed.

You can download the guide HERE.

This guide provides recommended guidelines regarding fire prevention and protection for electric vehicle charging areas. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of guidance or recommendations, but is considered to be a helpful starting point to better understand and evaluate the risk and consequences of electric vehicle charging areas to your property.

To know more about the risk mitigation strategies associated with EV charging stations, please get in touch with your account manager.