One of the hottest topics in fire protection these days is how to put out Lithium-Ion battery fires. It seems that every week in the news, there is some sort of fire regarding these power sources. While there is no 100% solution to lithium-ion battery fires, we know one thing is sure. Electric battery technology is here to stay. Costs are getting cheaper, and the public is standing in year-long lines for EVs like Tesla, Ford F-150, and Rivian. Amerex has long been in the vehicle suppression industry for on-road and off-road vehicles. Public transportation, waste management, mining, and forestry are just a few industries they assist. Bill Jolbert, Sales Director of Vehicle Systems, joined Drew to review the industry of vehicle suppression and something very new and exciting, detection. Amerex’s Kodiak series has been around for years, but their EV gas detection series is starting to get traction in the commercial bus industry.
2:11 - Intro
3:38 - Bill Introduces Himself
5:21 - Who Does Vehicle Suppression?
6:36 - What Vehicles are We Talking About?
7:29 - Key Off-Road Markets
8:29 - Key Over-The-Road Markets
9:20 - Regulations For These Markets
10:55 - Goal of Vehicle Suppression
13:06 - What These Fires Look Like
14:19 - How These Systems Work
18:41 - Wet, Dry, & Gaseous Systems
22:37 - The Kodiak Brand
24:53 - Dealing With Bus Fires
27:49 - Gas Detection on Trash Trucks
29:16 - Timeline of Electric Vehicle Growth
32:53 - Fire Suppression of Lithium-Ion Batteries
36:11 - Preventing Lithium-Ion Battery Runaways
37:21 - Early-Warnings in Private Electric Vehicles
40:08 - Looking Beyond Electric Vehicles
43:37- Quick Response Round
48:04 - Closing Thoughts