Responder and Recovery Safety in EV Fires

Summary#

This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to create the Electric Vehicle Fire Response Working Group within 90 days. The group must have at least 22 members drawn from towing companies, emergency responders, vehicle and component manufacturers, research and standards organizations, and certain Federal agencies. Members serve without pay. The group will regularly review risks and current practices for electric vehicle (EV) fires, issue and update best practices and guidance, and report roadside EV fire incidents into the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) database maintained by the United States Fire Administration. The group must publish annual reports to Congress and the public. The Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply to this group. The Secretary will provide administrative support using existing funds. The working group will end 10 years after it is established.

What it means for you#

• Emergency responders, towing operators, EV manufacturers, and charging station operators may be asked to nominate or serve as members of the working group.
• The working group will collect and publish information about EV fires that happen on public roads, at public charging stations, and in public parking areas.
• The group will issue guidance and best practices that responders and industry can use when handling EV fires.
• Members of the working group will not receive compensation for their service.

Expenses#

• The bill says the Secretary of Transportation must provide administrative support and must use existing funds to do so.
• Members serve without compensation.
• No publicly available information on estimated total costs or budget impacts is provided in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.