The penetration of electric vehicles in Bulgaria is gaining an increasingly large scale, with their number growing by an impressive 30% annually. Despite rapid spread, experts are drawing attention to essential technical features that hide potential risks.
According to official data from the European Commission, obtained from a large-scale study in Scandinavian countries, electric vehicles demonstrate significantly lower fire occurrence frequency compared to conventional cars. Statistics show that the likelihood of ignition is between 8 and 10 times smaller.
The paradox lies in the specifics of extinguishing such incidents. According to data from firefighters in Texas, USA, a fire in an electric vehicle requires between 8 and 10 times more water compared to traditional cars. This fact poses serious challenges for emergency services.
Chief Inspector Yoto Vasilev from the "State Fire Control" sector emphasizes a critical point: "Burning the battery does not require external oxygen, which necessitates the use of significant water quantities". This technical nuance requires specialized preparation and equipment.
The medical community is also involved in the analysis. Pulmonologist Dr. Alexander Simidchiev, who personally owns an electric car, explains the chemical characteristics: "Lithium-ion batteries at high temperature release hydrogen fluoride - an extremely aggressive acid that can corrode even glass".
In Bulgaria, currently around 20,000 electric vehicles are registered. The "Electric Vehicles" industrial cluster acknowledges that a unified national standard for action in such emergency situations is still lacking.
Despite technical challenges, experts are unanimous that the benefits of electric vehicles - lower pollution and environmental friendliness - significantly outweigh potential risks. Boris Kolev, an electric car owner for seven years, shares: "Convenience and cleanliness are incomparable with conventional vehicles".
The trend towards transportation electrification continues to gain momentum, which necessitates continuous training and adaptation of emergency services to new technological realities.