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Rescuers Prep for Hybrid Car Accidents

Posted by michael on from the hair-raising-experiences dept.

mykepredko writes "I've driven a Toyota Prius for two years now and found this CNN article regarding the training required to rescue people trapped in hybrid cars to be slightly alarming. As an EE, I would expect that the electrical system is designed to be as well protected and fail-safe as possible in an accident, but if I'm ever in an accident, I'll make sure that any responders are wearing rubber gloves and boots and if any cutting is done, the roof is the only area they touch." Toyota has an accident guide indicating that if the airbags deploy, the hybrid battery pack should be automatically isolated.

5 of 620 comments (clear)

  1. Current VS. Voltage... by mekkab · · Score: 5, Informative

    vs. dumb-asses.

    500 volts? 45 volts is enough to kill you... at 10 amperes!

    Seriously, aren't we nerds, or something?!

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  2. Voltage issue... by r84x · · Score: 5, Informative
    IANA Electrical Engineer, but I do know that it is not the voltage that is an issue, but the amps. I am from a farm, and I regularly come into contact with our electric fence, which runs at 10,000 volts.

    From the article:

    The battery powering the electric motor carries as much as 500 volts, more than 40 times the strength of a standard battery.

    --
    Karma: Can there be a void?

    .. -. - . .-. .-. --- -...

  3. This story is almost wholly bogus. by RareHeintz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Extended comments at Gizmodo makes it clear that this is 99% rumor/FUD. Does anyone bother chacking the facts on these things before they're posted?

    OK,
    - B

    --
    http://www.bradheintz.com/
    - updated
  4. Some important facts... by clockmaker · · Score: 5, Informative

    As the owner of a 2004 Prius, and being an engineer, I have never felt in danger.

    First, the High Voltage system is isolated from the car body completely. Not even "ground" is shared. The cables and parts are shrouded in tough orange plastic.

    Second, the article is incorrect on two points: the battery is only 200+ Volts, not 500V. The 500V is only between the inverter and motors.
    Also, there are no high voltage components in the doors.

    Because the airbag accelerometers are used to monitor whether the car is in an accident, the main battery relay shuts off right next to the battery long before any metal starts twisting its way into high voltage areas. The bigger danger is the battery (several NiMH cells) being split open, but it is protected by its location and special shrouds.

    My biggest fear in an accident is that the E-personnel are scared into paralysis by rumors, and don't rescue me.

    BTW, you can see the Toyota Emergency Responder guide at http://techinfo.toyota.com/

  5. More Detroit FUD BS by T_O_M · · Score: 5, Informative

    Another load of premium male bovine excrement from out friends in Texas and Munich/Detroit.

    My THIRD Prius, an 04 (I've owned an 01 and 03 - both completely problem-free), is currently sitting in Port Newark. I am also a retired rescue captain so I can state with some authority that Prius fundamental design is such that it would take a deliberate act of stupidity for a rescue technician to manage to make contact with both the positive AND negative high voltage leads at the same time since both are ground-isolated and separately encased in conduit.

    In real-fife rear-end accidents, only ONE Prius battery was damaged and it's safety issue was some minimal leakage of electrolyte; NOT "Deadly High Voltage"!

    In fact, the Japanese national fire safety bureau (the official name escapes me at the moment) insisted that Toyota place the HV conduit inboard far enough that the "Jaws Of Life" can't possibly make contact in one or two "bites".

    Sigh...

    "I don't understand it???
    I'm afraid of it!
    KILL IT!!!"
    T_O_M