Several legislators are urging Governor Gavin Newsom to delay the implementation of his electric rig mandate until California's first responders and state authorities can devise more effective methods for extinguishing fires caused by electric vehicles (EVs).
This call for caution follows a recent incident involving an electric big rig that caught fire on I-80, leading to 16 hours of firefighting efforts and extensive highway closures. The situation shows the significant public safety and environmental risks associated with EV fires, requiring specialized chemicals or vast amounts of water to extinguish.
These legislators argue that the state must address the known dangers of EV fires, including the release of toxic fumes and prolonged road closures, before moving forward with full electrification of the trucking system.
What if this big electric rig had caught fire in Los Angeles or San Diego, and all those toxic fumes had been released into the communities? The legislators note that the consequences of such fires could be catastrophic, with severe economic impacts on the affected companies and the region.
These risks are not unforeseen nor unintended; they have been well understood, and warnings have been provided to the State Legislature.
As EV adoption increases under this administration, when will they have the necessary protocols and tools in place to protect public safety and minimize disruptions? Without these safeguards, incidents like the I-80 fire will continue, posing a growing threat to the environment and the economy.
Meanwhile, the state needs to ensure that the energy it is using today is safe, reliable, abundant and affordable. The premature curtailment of in-state oil production has led to increased foreign imports into our crowded ports, but has done nothing to reduce demand for fossil fuels in California.
You can read more about the recent EV Rig Fire Here: