Electric cars are increasingly popular around the world and many countries have set goals to increase the percentage of electric cars on the road. Sweden is no exception and it has become increasingly common to see the cars on our roads. But with increased use also come new challenges – such as safe handling of electric cars that come in for scrapping. Car dismantlers in the country have seen an increase in the number of EVs coming in for scrapping. This places higher demands on the mechanics who work on dismantling the cars, because the safety linked to the risk of fire for the batteries is at a much higher level compared to a normal car. The batteries, which can weigh up to 600 kilograms, must be handled with special care, as the battery cells are very close together and a fire can easily lead to a chain reaction. “Then it may be too late” To reduce the risk of accidents, there is always a chain connected to the car to be able to quickly pull it out of the workshop should a dangerous situation arise. – We have learned that after two to three breaths, it may be too late in the case of a lithium fire, says mechanic Pontus Lindgren, who works at Lycksele Bildemontering. To deal with the increase in electric cars at scrap yards in the country, special staging areas are now set aside for electric cars. This is necessary because electric cars must be quarantined before anyone is allowed to touch them. This is a safety measure that is necessary due to the higher demands on the handling of the electric car batteries. – Something may have happened to the battery so that it has overheated and then there is a great risk of fire, says Jens Peder Mårtensson CEO of Lycksele Bildemontering. Difficult to repair Another challenge for the industry is the recycling of the batteries. Electric car batteries are difficult to repair, which means that almost new electric cars are scrapped at the slightest damage. This leads to the batteries ending up in the scrap, which means that the circular economic model of electric cars does not add up. In order to meet this challenge, the entire electric car industry is waiting for the EU’s battery regulation, which is supposed to clarify the roles of the players and will come into force as a law from 2024. – The important thing is that everyone now helps each other. This applies all the way from manufacturers to workshops, car dismantlers and recycling companies, says Andreas Frössberg CEO, Sweden’s National Association of Car Recyclers. Special training In summary, the car dismantling industry is facing new challenges when it comes to handling electric cars. The mechanics must be extra careful when handling the electric car batteries because of the risk of fire, and special training is required to work with electric cars. The recycling of the batteries is also a challenge, and it is necessary to find new solutions for the circular economy of electric cars to become more sustainable. With the right training and resources, the auto dismantling industry can continue to handle the rise of electric cars safely and efficiently. Watch interviews with the mechanics in the player above.
t4-general
The mechanics’ alarm: Great risk of fire when scrapping electric car batteries
