More first responders will be trained to respond to electric vehicle emergencies. As electric vehicle sales grow in the US and Canada, the automaker is expanding its EV First Responder Training program. The initiative will mainly focus on training firefighters and teaching them how to use electric vehicles. When it comes to handling EV in emergency situations, GM wants to make sure that the public knows that. Water is dangerous around EV batteries, but the recommended way to put out fires is to use a lot of water.
Andrew Klock is a senior manager of education and development at the National Fire Protection Association. It is important that the fire service is educated on EV safety since they have had more than 100 years to learn about it. 300,000 first responders received training from the NFPA, but it believes more than a million other people still need more training.
The program was piloted in southeast Michigan, but now it's being conducted across Michigan and in Fort Worth, Texas. The program is coming to New York City and Southern California later this summer. The four-hour sessions will be held in a variety of places, including fire houses and dealerships. If first and second responders score at least 70 percent on the learning assessment by the end of their training, they will receive a certificate from the Illinois Fire Service Institute.
There are several EV models on the market, including the Chevy Bolts, the GM Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq. Training responders could help make potential customers more receptive to the idea of switch to electric vehicles. Ten years after that, GM wants to sell only EV's.
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