Are Hybrid Hazards Cause To Worry?
Nothing is ever all good. Not even hybrid cars. After hearing all the praise for hybrid cars, anyone wondering about their potential hazards may strike you as odd. Let’s now find out whether there are any real hazards to driving hybrid cars.
One of the most major concerns often discussed about when it comes to hybrid vehicles is regarding accidents involving a hybrid. Many traditional looking cars such as the Honda Accord and Ford Escape are now being built with hybrid engines and rescuers may be confused when identifying the car. The reason why identification is extremely important is because hybrid cars may have a large amount of electricity coursing through the metal. And if unidentified this may severely harm the rescuers as well as the already suffering victims of the accident. Many people say that a simple solution to this problem is for automakers to put a label on the driver’s side visor stating clearly that it is a hybrid vehicle, equip with all the features that this kind of car entails.
New hybrids are pouring into the market at a fast rate and consequently all first responders (like the police, fire department and paramedics) must be taught the ways in which hybrid cars differ from the old traditional non-hybrid models. Lack of relevant education could result in safety measures being compromised and even more severe injuries (life threatening or otherwise) taking place. To use the battery in a hybrid as one example, some hybrid models have batteries carrying up to 500 volts of charge and is powered by gasoline as well as electricity. Compare this with the battery voltage of a typical non-hybrid car, which is only around of 12 volts. First responders must be taught where the battery is located in a hybrid car and how to carefully cut the cables without risking being electrocuted by the high voltage from the battery output. This is particularly important when using machinery such as the Jaws of Life to physically remove a victim in imminent danger from a car. It cannot be emphasized enough that without proper training, extremely serious injury, and even death, could result.
The solution to this problem is being researched by manufacturers of hybrids with Honda and Toyota in front of the line on safety procedures. Hybrid cars are being given color codes so that first responders can easily figure out the flow of electricity in the car. Honda hybrids use a bright orange to indicate the high-voltage power line. This helps reduce safety risks for rescuers responding to emergency calls.
Increasing concern about hybrid hazards have led Honda and Toyota to formulate their own individual safety guides for rescue personnel. Every fire department in the United States was sent a copy of these guides to be given to their staff to educate themselves. Toyota has now completed a new guide for its latest hybrid vehicles, the Highlander and Lexus. These can easily be found online by any member of the public, whether they are emergency workers or not.
South Florida has many canals and many people have expressed concern about the hybrid hazards involved in water submersion accidents, since these kinds of accidents are common in this area. Manufacturers of hybrid vehicles insist that the only thing emergency personnel need to keep in mind regarding safety issues is to remember to make sure the car’s ignition is turned off as soon as it is out of the water.
Speaking of the car being turned off, that is another debatable issue when it comes to talk of hybrid hazards. Hybrid cars are manufactured differently than traditional gas powered vehicles . This means it is not always easy to tell if whether they are off or still running. Most traditional cars need only a feel of the hood of the car to make a correct determination but hybrids can be tricky- a hybrid can appear to be turned off when actually it is in silent electric mode and very capable of plowing over an unsuspecting person if any movement or pressure is applied to the accelerator. One possible solution to this hazard, put forth by the fire department in Texas, is to place chocks under all the wheels if it is not known whether the car’s ignition is still on or not.