Electric Vehicle Training for ICBC Employees, Module 4, Lesson 3
In this lesson we cover water recoveries.
Water Recoveries
An EV’s high-voltage electrical system is isolated from the chassis. Therefore, the high-voltage electricity does not come into direct contact with the vehicleu2019s structural components. There are other safety and fault detection systems to protect against a shock hazard. If the system detects a short circuit due to water intrusion, it is designed to immediately shutdown.
Water recovery hazards include:
- Coming into contact with submerged HV cables or components
- Submersion in water (especially salt water) can damage low and high voltage components. Although not a common occurrence, this could result in an electrical short and potential fire once the vehicle is no longer submerged
Watch this, which video demonstrates the best practices for EV water recoveries:
Never attempt a water recovery without proper support, training or equipment.u00a0Always avoid any contact with high voltage cabling or components. u00a0Consult the manufacturer emergency response guide for high voltage locations prior to connecting any recovery lines.
The vehicle should be shut down and disabled before removal from the water.u00a0If that is not possible, remove it from the water, allow the vehicle to drain fully, and then initiate the recommended disable procedure.u00a0Do not attempt to remove a manual service disconnect while in the water.
Also note that the vehicle weight and location of the battery will affect the way the vehicle will behave when winching. Removing an electric vehicle from the water is similar to the process for a conventional vehicle, apart from these previously noted exceptions.
Damaged high voltage batteries can produce flammable gasses. Venting the passenger compartment is recommended once the vehicle is out of the water. Do not store the vehicle indoors.
When servicing or recovering an electric vehicle, remember:
- To conduct a scene assessment prior to recovering the vehicle
- To observe health and safety procedures
- Wear proper PPE
- Use only the correct tools and equipment to do the job safely
- Follow correct towing procedures
- Follow workplace procedures
- Always refer to manufacturer specific information
