In a move to tackle the unique challenges posed by the rise of electric mobility, Lanzarote’s Safety and Emergency Consortium has unveiled a pioneering new piece of equipment: a specialised flood container for electric vehicle fires. This tool is the first of its kind in the entire Canary Islands.
The new container is designed to ensure the complete and total extinction of fires in electric cars, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters, addressing a key safety concern for emergency services.
Lanzarote Cabildo President, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted the ongoing commitment to equipping the island’s frontline services with cutting-edge technology. “With this new container, Lanzarote is once again at the forefront of safety and emergency response, offering a modern, effective, and safe response to situations that are becoming increasingly frequent due to the rise in electric mobility,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, the Cabildo Vice-President, María Jesús Tovar, stated that “this addition not only improves the Consortium’s operational capacity, but also reinforces this Corporation’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
A Unique Tool for a Modern Problem
Francisco J. Aparicio, President of the Security and Emergency Consortium, emphasised the “pioneering” nature of the resource within the archipelago.
“This is a unique tool in the Canary Islands, designed specifically for the total extinguishing of fires in electric vehicles,” Aparicio explained. “It guarantees the safety of those involved and prevents subsequent risks of reignition or explosion. It is another step forward in the modernisation of the Consortium and in the protection of people and the environment.”
How It Works
The new equipment is six metres long and 2.3 metres wide internally. Constructed from a high-strength metal structure, it includes a winch that allows firefighters to safely drag a smouldering vehicle from the outside into the container.
Its key function is to completely flood the vehicle once the initial fire has been put out. This crucial measure eliminates any possibility of the lithium-ion batteries reigniting. After a fire, high temperatures can melt the internal cells that separate the batteries, creating new electrical contacts that can lead to sudden explosions or new fires hours or even days later.
This new acquisition represents a significant upgrade for the Consortium. Until now, crews relied on a canvas bag for such incidents, which had limited uses and was less durable. The new flood container is built to be used indefinitely and is highly resistant, markedly increasing safety for emergency personnel and optimising the response to electric vehicle incidents across Lanzarote.
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