Arguments that outdated federal standards on the flammability of vehicle interior materials — put in place before the development of electric vehicles — pose an unnecessary health hazard Consumer Reports.
In response to a study by the Green Science Policy Institute at Duke University, which found that toxic chemicals from flame retardants may be present in the air inside cars, Consumer Reports is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering replacing the current standards, adopted in 1971, with new standards that do not require the use of these chemicals.
Research shows that 99% of cars contain flame retardants, which are being investigated by the US National Toxicology Program as a possible carcinogen. Most cars were also found to have added harmful flame retardant chemicals, including two known carcinogens under California’s Proposition 65.
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A 2022 study conducted by the Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff lab also found that car seats—especially in lower-priced vehicles—contain harmful chemicals, Consumer Reports noted.
With that in mind, Consumer Reports is calling for an update to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302, which governs flammability and applies to materials used inside car. According to Consumer Reports, one possibility is something like the smoldering test conducted by California in 2013. This “has similar effectiveness,” but sets a standard that can be met without using flame retardant chemicals, according to Consumer Reports.
“Regardless of the powertrain, NHTSA and automakers should agree on steps to protect consumers and drivers,” William Wallace, CR’s vice president of safety policy, told Green Car Reports. better first responders from vehicle fires.” “In addition, we look forward to commenting on NHTSA’s proposed rules to add new requirements and testing procedures for the safety of electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Hopefully these This rule will help protect the public and promote safety innovation in this area.”
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If the federal government reconsiders this issue, concerns over electric vehicles may be different. Fires are less common in electric vehiclesand when they happen, they are usually related to charging. That means a car is often parked with no one inside. Simple measures like a short layer of protection can go a long way in preventing electric vehicle fires—compared to the complexity of managing flammable liquids in gasoline-powered models.
However, electric vehicles are not without special safety problems. Emergency responders still need training to handle high-voltage electronics, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has pointed out that Weight is a safety concern.
