As demand increases for electric and hybrid vehicles among Trinidad and Tobago consumers, first responders face one unique safety challenge.

At the T&T Chamber’s first EV and Hybrid Conference and Exhibition, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Division Director Chris Angerer said EV and hybrid vehicle fires are the issue.

“The very first question is, can you put out a battery fire, a lithium-ion battery fire, in these vehicles? And the answer is maybe, because today, we as firefighters have always used water, foam, other technologies to put out fires, and I am going to tell you right now water in and of itself will not put out one of these fires.”