Electric Vehicle Safety Training Resources for First and Second Responders

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office provides project assistance through Clean Cities and Communities, technical assistance, and project funding to help stakeholders implement alternative fuels and electric vehicles (EVs). With increased production and availability of EV models, including electric school buses and transit buses, emergency responders need training resources to prepare to safely manage incidents and risks involving EVs.

The following is a list of known available training and educational resources for first and second responders specific to alternative fuel vehicles, with a particular focus on EV resources. Please note, recognition of certification or completion of the courses may vary depending on the provider and content. This list includes both free and for-fee resources.

This list is provided for informational or educational purposes only. The Alternative Fuels Data Center makes no warranties or claims as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or usefulness of this information.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Emergency Response Guides and General EV Safety/Fire Resources

The following include links to emergency response guides and general safety and fire resources for alternative fuel vehicles.

• Vehicle-Specific Emergency Response Guides – National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website with links to U.S. vehicle emergency response guides.

• Vehicle-Specific Emergency Response Guides – Energy Security Agency (ESA) website with links to U.S. vehicle emergency response guides.

• Submerged Hybrid/Electric Vehicles – One-page bulletin published by the NFPA providing guidance to emergency responders on submerged and previously-submerged hybrid vehicles/EVs.

• Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Quick Reference: Fire Service Edition – Electric quick reference card for fire services published by NFPA.

• Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped With High-Voltage Batteries (Law Enforcement/Emergency Medical Services/Fire Department) – One-page document published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) providing guidance to first responders specific to crash damage and high-voltage battery fires in EVs.

• Interim Guidance for Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped With High-Voltage Batteries (Towing and Recovery Operators and Vehicle Storage Facilities) – One-page document published by NHTSA providing guidance to towing/recovery/storage personnel specific to recovering, transporting, and storing EVs.

• Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in EVs (Report and Video Summary) – Eighty-page safety report and video summary published by the National Transportation Safety Board describing the safety risks to emergency responders from lithium-ion battery fires.

• IAFC Bulletin: Fire Department Response to Electrical Vehicle Fires – One-page bulletin published by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) outlining fire department response information specific to EV and hybrid vehicle fires.

• Science of Fire and Explosion Hazards from Lithium-Ion Batteries – Online one-hour course provided by UL Research Institute Fire Safety Research Institute on the science of fire and explosion hazards from lithium-ion battery incidents.

Training Resources for First Responders

Listed below are alternative fuel vehicle training resources directed toward first responders.

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles Training Program for Emergency Responders – Online four-hour course offered by NFPA that introduces alternative fuel vehicle and first responder techniques related to immobilization, extrication, fires, submersion, etc. Training also covers incidents involving charging/fueling stations. Note: NFPA also offers group training. See go.nfpa.org/sales-sql-lead to request more information.

• Electric Vehicle Safety: An Awareness Level Training – One-hour online awareness course offered by the National Volunteer Fire Council that introduces first responders to hybrid and EVs and related incident response.

• First Responder Safety Training – In-person course offered by the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) that provides training on safely addressing incidents involving a variety of alternative fuel vehicles, as well as first responder techniques for securing vehicles, rescuing occupants, and fire/fuel leak response.

• Battery Electric Vehicle First Responder Training – Online training course offered by General Motors that features training for first responders specific to EV incidents.

• Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Responder Awareness Level – Two-hour virtual live course offered by ESA that provides awareness-level training of hybrid and EVs and potential related hazards. Note: In-person training is also available.

• First Responder Electric Vehicle Training – Four-hour training course offered by the Automotive Certified Training Academy that provides training on automotive high voltage technology and components, hazards and risks, and system disconnects.

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Training – In-person eight-hour course offered by the Illinois Fire Service Institute that provides training on alternative fuel vehicles and systems, other hazardous vehicle components and systems, and rescue challenges related to air bags and other vehicle components. Note: all locations in Illinois.

Training Resources for First Responders (Firefighter-Specific Training)

Alternative fuel vehicle training resources directed toward firefighters are listed below.

• Tactical Considerations for Extinguishing Fires in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles – Sixteen-minute video provided by NFPA on extinguishing fires in alternative fuel vehicles.

• Firefighter Electric Vehicle Safety Training – Training offered by AFV Educate that provides information on electric and hybrid EVs and first responder techniques related to immobilization, extrication, fires, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Training is available through a variety of mediums.

• Firefighter Electric Vehicle Extrication Training – In-person two-day course offered by AFV Educate featuring training on the use of common firefighter extrication tools on conventional and EVs.

• Firefighter Alternative Fuel Vehicle Safety Training – Course offered by NAFTC that provides information on alternative fuel vehicles and first responder techniques related to immobilization, occupant rescue, and fire response.

Training Resources for First Responders (Law Enforcement and EMS Specific Training)

The following alternative fuel vehicle training resources are directed toward law enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS).

• Electric Vehicle Safety Online Training: Crash Reconstruction Edition – Online course offered by NFPA that provides general information about EVs, as well as information for crash investigators related to operating safely around EVs and conducting accident reconstructions.

• Law Enforcement Electric Vehicle Safety Training – Training offered by AFV Educate that provides information for law enforcement personnel on understanding how EVs operate, their key components, and how to identify them at the scene of an accident.

• EMS Electric Vehicle Safety Training – Training offered by AFV Educate that provides information for EMS personnel on understanding how EVs operate, their key components, and how to identify them at the scene of an accident.

Training Resources for Second Responders

Listed below are alternative fuel vehicle training resources for second responders.

• Electric Vehicle Safety Online Training: Tow and Salvage Edition – Online course offered by the NFPA that provides training specific to vehicle recovery, towing, and post-incident storage of EVs.

• Tow Truck Operator Alternate Fuel Vehicle Safety Training – Course offered by AFV Educate that provides information on alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, as well as information related to towing, immobilizing, and storage of alternative fuel vehicles.

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Towing and Roadside Assistance Training – Online course developed by NAFTC in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy that provides information on alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, as well as proper procedures for towing—or providing roadside assistance to—EVs or alternative fuel vehicles.