Firefighters train on electric vehicles

As Jack Volz ramps up his training for first responders regarding electric vehicles (EVs), two things become apparent.
First, Volz says EVs are here to stay and are “not a flash in the pan.”
Second, and perhaps most importantly, they are safe for first responders to work on when involved in a vehicle crash.
Volz operates Safety & Security Consultation Specialists (SASCS) in Minnesota Lake and just within the past few months he started providing first responder training about EVs across the state. On Jan. 18, he provided a training session for area fire departments at Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric (SWCE) in Owatonna.
“The hazards (of EVs) are very controllable and minimal,” said Volz. “The greatest hazard is that they are silent. You can’t hear anything until you step on the foot pedal.”
In fact, one of the biggest hazards Volz has uncovered in his research on EVs is that more pedestrians are being hit with EVs because nobody can hear them. “They are used to hearing the noise,” Volz said, adding his sound advice for everyone is to look both ways before you cross the street.
Some of the common misconceptions involving EVS, Volz said, are that you can be electrocuted by EVs and that high voltage batteries will leak a significant amount of electrolyte if damaged. Another misconception is that EVs are worse for the climate because of their batteries.
Five EVs were on display for firefighters to familiarize themselves with at last week’s training. “They are as safe if not safer than a regular vehicle,” said Volz, who has been training firefighters for 25 years on a variety of safety topics, including grain bins. “These things are amazing. They are here to stay.”
Volz had planned to train about EVs a few years ago, but it was stalled when COVID-19 hit. His first EV training took place in Lutsen, Minn. in December.
He believes it’s imperative to get the EV training in the hands of fire departments. “The EV technology is advancing so rapidly… it’s just like a computer. It’s almost outdated before you get it,” Volz said.
Volz developed his training after contacting major auto manufacturers directly to gain insight into EVs. Experts from the auto industry trained Volz and other instructors he has on staff.
Blooming Prairie Fire Chief Dean Naatz was one of those attending last week’s training. He agreed one of the biggest issues with EVs is that you can’t hear them running. “We will have to walk up to them from the sides so we don’t get run over,” he said.
Naatz expects EVs to be covered in upcoming training sessions for the full department later this year.
One of the biggest concerns Volz has with EVs really has nothing to do with safety. He is worried that the power grid is not ready for everyone to go out and buy them. “It’s not that we are in trouble, but we’re just not ready yet for this,” he said. “You can’t put up a grid overnight,” he added.
Jack Schwab, safety coordinator for SWCE, said the EV training is the first of its kind in the area. Schwab said his overall goal in hosting the training was “to make firefighters believers.” He added, “I want them to believe that this technology is coming.”
Currently, there are about 20,000 EVs registered in Minnesota. Schwab estimated there are about 20 EVs in the Steele-Waseca service territory, which spans seven counties. Northfield has the most EVs in the immediate area.
Within the next 10 years, Schwab predicts at least 10% of the vehicles will be electric.
“It’s going to go quick,” Schwab said. “It will make it to the small towns.”
SWCE has owned one EV for the past year and a half. “In some ways they are safer (than regular vehicles),” Schwab said.
Schwab hopes those in attendance at last week’s training will go back to their departments and teach the rest of their firefighters about EVs. “The bottom line is safety with electricity,” he said.
In regards to motor vehicle crashes, Schwab said: “They need to learn where to cut and where not to cut. To cut people out of these (EV) cars is a different ball game.”