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Development of a Zero-Emission Vehicles Incident-Management System for Arizona’s Roadways

As zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) equipped with battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cells become more common in Arizona, managing roadway incidents involving these vehicles presents new challenges. Crashes involving ZEVs cause problems for first and second responders because there is a gap in procedures for addressing the unique safety hazards of ZEVs, including electrical systems that can produce up to 1,000 volts of electricity and on-board fuel storage systems that contain compressed hydrogen at up to 700 bar operating pressure. ZEV incidents can place both the public and emergency responders in jeopardy, and the damage to transportation infrastructure caused by ZEV failures can create problems for department of transportation staff tasked with restoring roadways to full functionality. Many first and second responders reported limited opportunities for learning how to respond to ZEV incidents in a coordinated fashion, and police, emergency medical services (EMS), and tow truck drivers are all less likely than firefighters to have ZEV-specific safety training. Developing protocols that coordinate responses to ZEV emergency incidents among various Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) units and other state and local emergency management agencies could help keep emergency responders and the traveling public safe on Arizona’s roads, as well as reducing congestion by helping ADOT improve response times to emergencies.