With more and more electric vehicles on the road in northeastern NC, the Ahoskie Rural Fire Department recently asked Roanoke Cooperative to share electric vehicle (EV) safety training. The co-op presented safety training to 28 first responders. Roanoke Cooperative often shares its expertise on EVs and EV ownership as the number of member-owners who drive the vehicles grows. The co-op team works with emergency services to train and provide the safest atmosphere to address an emergency. As first responders to hybrid and all-electric vehicles, firefighters sometimes encounter unique fire and safety hazards due to the high-voltage components of a damaged lithium-ion battery. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, electric shock and battery reignition/fire can arise from the energy in a damaged battery. The co-op provided solar safety training as well.
