NFPA and SAE International Announce Second Summit on Safe Implementation of Electric Vehicles

The 2nd Annual Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit is a continuation of the dialogue begun at last year’s groundbreaking Summit initiated in order to support the rapid implementation of electric and hybrid electric vehicles in North America. The Summit provides a forum in which all relevant individuals, organizations and agencies can contribute to the development of action plans regarding the codes and standards necessary to effectively address safety as it relates to electrified vehicles and their infrastructure.

Last year’s Summit led to the identification of three areas for action plan development: vehicle charging infrastructure; battery hazards identification and protection; and training for emergency responders. A summary report of last year’s Summit is available at http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Research/RFUSNEVSSSummit.pdf .

Safety representatives of vehicle and equipment manufacturers, fire protection specialists, electrical safety organizations and emergency responders, as well as governmental entities at the federal, state and local level involved in enhancing consumer safety and interagency communications, are encouraged to participate in the Summit.

"Hybrid-electric and electric vehicles continue to proliferate on our roadways and it is important to build on the positive progress now occurring in the safety infrastructure. We need to remain vigilant in our pursuit of safety on behalf of consumers and emergency responders while working closely with all who are trying to advance this important new technology," said Christian Dubay, P.E., NFPA vice president codes and standards and chief engineer.

Dave Baxter, SAE Motor Vehicle Council Chair, said, "SAE International is pleased to collaborate with NFPA in hosting a summit that brings together key stakeholders to identify the necessary standards development activities and associated deployment strategies."

Registration information will be available on the SAE International website at www.sae.org/events/nevss/.

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International’s core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International’s charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series. Visit SAE International’s website at http://www.sae.org/ for additional information.

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