UAE | Traffic and Transport

Hybrid cars pose threat to Dubai emergency services

While hybrid cars are quieter and environmentally-friendly, special training is needed to deal with the high-voltage batteries.

  • By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:29 July 11, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: While hybrid cars are quieter and environmentally-friendly, special training is needed to deal with the high-voltage batteries.

Terry Johnsson, President, General Motors (GM) Middle East Operations, said the training is needed for emergency response teams to learn how to deal with a hybrid car in the event of an accident.

Johnsson said: "Normally you have a 12 volt battery on board, whereas the hybrid has a 300 volt battery. So if you have a severe accident, emergency responses have to know that they're dealing with a hybrid and have to know what to do. There's plenty of sensors on board to disengage the battery, but you still have to be careful - you can't just cut open the doors any more to get inside, you have to go through some other procedures."

GM had delivered a fleet of hybrid cars to the Roads and Transport Authority as part of a year-long pilot trial using the cars as taxis.

According to US news service Standard Times, the batteries can emit a potentially fatal 600 volts of electricity.

Those coming into contact with the batteries need to wear rubber gloves that protect up to 1,000 volts and sometimes wear leather gloves over the top to prevent tearing.

Five Chevrolet Tahoe and five Chevrolet Malibu will be tested for a year as taxis in Dubai.

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