New smartphone app makes electric car crash rescues safer

A new smartphone app by crash-exam physique Euro NCAP aims to make auto accidents safer for emergency companies and first responders by alerting them to the site of high-voltage batteries and wires – crucial elements in electric cars and trucks that pose sizeable threats if slice improperly or harmed.

Automobile makers are already obliged to make ‘rescue sheets’ for their vehicles, indicating where by firefighters should slice them if they have to have to eliminate a car’s roof, for case in point.

From this yr, Euro NCAP is awarding details in its crash tests primarily based on regardless of whether or not this facts is “readily available”, a response to the point that as cars and trucks turn out to be extra advanced, “knowing where by it’s protected to slice a automobile should extrication be demanded is significantly challenging”.

The new smartphone app – dubbed Euro Rescue – goes some way to creating everyday living a lot easier for emergency companies by collecting these rescue sheets with each other in 1 resource, which can be accessed each on and offline. As nicely as telling fire crews where by high-voltage EV elements are, the app informs them where by airbags, and seatbelt pretensioners are located on all cars and trucks, very important facts specified these safety characteristics comprise explosive products.

The app is obtainable to download for totally free for Android and Apple smartphones, and has been created in conjunction with the International Association of Fireplace & Rescue Solutions. It is to begin with obtainable in English, French, German and Spanish, with all European languages staying covered from 2023.

Pierre Castaing, President of Euro NCAP explained: “This Euro Rescue software, the end result of joint perform involving companies, fire and rescue companies and Euro NCAP, is the first obvious end result of the progress that can be created in terms of tertiary safety many others are to come.”

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