Bengaluru Transport Corporation (BMTC) electric bus EiV 12 caught fire at the Bidadi Depot
An incident happened in Bengaluru where a Bengaluru Transport Corporation (BMTC) electric bus EiV 12 caught fire and went into flames at the Bidadi depot (49). There were no injuries nor did anybody get into the line of fire when the incident took place.
The electric bus is from Ashok Leyland’s subsidiary Switch Mobility (AL) non-AC electric bus was stationed at the depot. Many people saw the huge clouds of black smoke. The reasons are still unknown, the Managing Director of BMTC Mr. Ramachandran R has still not made any official statement.
How Does Electric Buses Catch Fire?
Almost every person knows that fires from electric vehicles are different from conventional vehicles. Electric bus fires are very dangerous and also harmful as they release toxic chemical fumes into the atmosphere. Normal electric buses when built, have their battery packs below the floor, but the retrofitted buses have their batteries installed on the top which results in poor fire extinguishing due to their position on the bus itself.
They can’t get cooled even if you throw water at it, thus making the thermal runaway more harsh and uneasy to restore it. The roof-mounted batteries also pose risks while charging, leading to poor thermal management and can cause fire easily.
What to do when electric bus catches fire
This incident increases the safety issues with the BMTC’s electric buses and can lead to more unconventional safety and thermal issues leading them to catch fire. The authorities need to properly check and test the buses before making them available for public use. Although electric buses and their battery tech are far safer than conventional buses, they still have to be tested with proper safety measures to ensure public safety. Also, it is the responsibility of the authority that these electric buses should meet high standards of safety when it comes to their body, chassis, and most importantly, the battery.
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