Bill > A5278

Introduced Session

This bill creates a Statewide pilot program to test new technology for fighting fires emanating from electric vehicles. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report in 2020 of its investigations into the difficulties experienced by fire departments attempting to extinguish electric vehicle fires. Specifically, the board cited increased risk to first responders of stored energy reigniting after all signs of fire and smoke have been put out. The National Fire Protection Association emergency field guide recommends large, sustained volumes of water to extinguish high-voltage battery fires and highlights the difficulty of applying extinguishing agents directly onto the burning cells of an electric vehicle. Emergent technology exists and should be examined as a resource in the repository of methods available to New Jersey's firefighters. This bill attempts to address current challenges by equipping select fire departments throughout the State with the newest technology for one year and requiring them to report their findings and recommendations to the Division of Fire Safety.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bethanne Patrick (R)*,  Bob Auth (R),  John Catalano (R),  Robert Clifton (R),  Greg McGuckin (R),  Erik Peterson (R),  Brian Rumpf (R),  Erik Simonsen (R),  Parker Space (R), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee (on 02/28/2023)

Official Document