New bans for owners of electric cars. After the upheaval taken on ferries in some Northern European countries now also on the route Marseille-Corsica they snap restrictions for electric car owners. Corsica Lineone of the companies active in the management of transport services between the French port and the island has in fact established a rule for anyone who wants to board one of its ferries with an electric vehicle: the drivers, in fact, must present themselves at the boarding point with a load of the battery not exceeding 30%. And these days there is also news that a supermarket Eurospin of Posillipo (Naples) has decided to prohibit access to underground parking for plug-in vehicles.
The upheaval after some accidents
The provision concerning maritime transport appears to be a consequence of thefire that last summer hit a cargo ship off the coast of the Netherlands. But in recent months there have been many problems encountered by shipowners for the transport of electric cars and therefore a crackdown is underway: ranging from an absolute ban on boarding plug-in cars to other operators who have introduced limitations.
There are many examples of this discretion in the approach that is generating uncertainty: some companies such as Norwegian Uecc have set a range between 20% and 50% for the transport of electric cells (according to some studies, with a charge of less than 50% the chemistry of the cells is considered more stable). The cars Tesla e MG, for example, are shipped respecting precisely this interval. Another Norwegian company, the Havila Coastal Routehas instead prohibited the loading of any rechargeable vehicle, while the‘Irish Ferries it even provides an on-board charging service.
Difficult to put out the fire on board
Statistics show that the fire danger of an electric car is practically the same as that of a diesel or petrol car. But the real problems begin when the bonfire is ignited. While taming the flames of a traditional car can be done with current on-board safety systems, Vehicles on tap require special devices. The danger therefore increases considerably taking into account that the vehicles are packed to capacity in the holds of ships for reasons of space.
Another aspect not to be underestimated in the future is the length of the route. Under 45 minutes, the risks are limited but, for longer crossings, with the ship far from all coasts and therefore from emergency vehicles, a possible fire from an electric car could constitute a danger for the very survival of the vessel. boat. The only way forward would be to equip all ships in circulation with specific fire prevention systems for electric. But these are particularly costly investments that, at this moment, the companies have no intention of making.
No electric in the underground car park
The limitations in underground parking already concern LPG cars which, having pressurized cylinders on board, could explode and cause extensive damage. The danger increases because the firefighters and ambulances could have enormous problems intervening underground. A statement that also applies to electric cars. As already highlighted for cars on ferries, also in this case the shutdown of plug-in cars, perhaps at various levels under the ground, would require ad hoc shutdown systems. But no one has it. Hence the decision of some structures, such as the Neapolitan supermarket, to prohibit access.
Waiting for clear legislation
To date, in Europe there is no regulation which prohibits access to electric cars in covered car parks. But these are private areas each company can decide independently what to do and what to forbid. For some time in Germany, where the diffusion of plug-in cars is greater than in Italy, there have already been numerous parking spaces prohibited for electric cars and even hybrids. While waiting for community legislation to regulate the matter, owners of electric cars may find their way blocked by the supermarket near their home.