TRENTON, NJ – Electric vehicle fires are a dangerous threat to all involved, including firefighters and police responding to those high-intensity fires. Now, lawmakers are calling on Governor Murphy to properly train first responders to avoid future injuries and deaths as the governor is pushing for a 100% electric vehicle mandate by 2035.
In response to Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to ban gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick is advocating for her bipartisan bill (A4476), which aims to provide firefighter and EMT training to handle electric vehicle (EV) fires.
The legislation, introduced last September, seeks to equip first responders with the necessary skills to address the unique challenges posed by EV fires, which can burn hotter and longer than fires from traditional gas-powered vehicles. While gas-powered car fires can be extinguished with one tank of water in less than an hour, EV fires can take several hours to put out.
Additionally, the cooling process for burned-out EV batteries can take up to two hours, or firefighters may need to continuously pour water on the vehicle for up to 8 hours.
Assemblywoman McCarthy Patrick emphasizes the importance of proper training to ensure the safety of first responders when dealing with these emergencies. She raises concerns about the feasibility of transitioning to an all-electric vehicle future and advocates for more balanced approaches to cleaner energy that won’t burden the state’s residents financially or drive them into poverty.
The number of EVs registered in New Jersey has been increasing, with projections indicating that more than half of all vehicles on the road could be EVs by 2050. However, the high cost of EVs, with the average basic model priced at $60,000, remains a barrier for many residents.
“Murphy will be long gone. I expect he’ll come out of his semi-retirement from some palatial seaside mansion to warn us about the existential threat of rising sea levels. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be trying to figure out how to afford and power those electric vehicles he says we won’t be forced to buy,” McCarthy Patrick quipped. “We don’t have the technology or the infrastructure or the training to reasonably meet this. This EV plan is just plain stupid.”
Governor Murphy’s energy plan is ambitious, aiming for 100% clean energy by 2050, with inspiration drawn from California’s similar goal for 2045. McCarthy Patrick, however, cautions against relying solely on solar and wind energy, as seen in California, which has faced challenges such as rolling brownouts and the need for charging vehicles during off-peak hours.
The Assemblywoman criticizes the lack of infrastructure, technology, and training required to support such an extensive shift to EVs and argues that the current plan is not practical or feasible.
In conclusion, McCarthy Patrick believes that the EV plan is ill-advised, lacking the necessary groundwork and resources to be a viable solution for New Jersey’s energy future.