*SITUATION*
Through technical progress and current political endeavours it may be assumed that the percentage of electric and hybrid vehicles is rising in the near future. Such new types of vehicles have their energy stored in different variations (e.g. batteries, fuel cells, motor fuel etc.). They are also prone to fire and explosion hazards, which in road tunnels can lead to an increased safety risk for its users. The fire characteristics of an electric vehicle fire as well as the consequences for future road tunnel operations are currently still unknown.
*METHOD*
At first, the actual state of knowledge will be ascertained through specific literature researches and existing spheres of action between electric mobility and tunnel safety will be recapitulated. In further steps, a specific fire experiment will be conducted in order to scientifically determine the differences between an electric and an internal combustion engine vehicle. For this reason we already have ensured a collaboration with VersuchsStollen Hagerbach AG and the french tunnel research centre CETU. Together with experts out of industries, sciences and other stakeholders (e.g. mobility academy, fire fighting organisations etc.) adequate test scenarios will be defined. By means of this experiment, temperatures, heat of combustion, heat release rates and emitted gases of electric vehicle fires will be examined and documented; further aspects such as explosivity and fire extinguishing methods are taken into consideration as well. After analysing the findings with respect to conventional vehicle fires, a well-founded conclusion can be drawn, whether electric vehicle fires pose new fire hazards in road tunnels and if measures for future road tunnel operations are needed to approach the changing hazards accordingly.