Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Global sales of Electric Vehicles

2010 - 1,700

2011 - 26,000

2012 - 64,000

Predicted global sales volumes of all cars for 2020 = 85 million, of these 41 million will be electric or hybrid.

It doesn’t need spelling out - if they are not there already - electric and hybrid vehicles are coming into an auto recycling yard near you very soon.

Electric and Hybrid vehicles have high voltage electricity running through them, anywhere between 450 and 750 volts depending on model - this voltage can kill!

There are a number of actions that can be taken to make sure you and your staff are safe when working on or around these vehicles.

1 - Start now by researching the vehicles, know where the major components are and where the safety switches are located on the vehicle. 

2 - Write a risk assessment and process for handling these vehicles at all stages through the business, includes collection, storage, dismantling and recycling.

3 - Using the risk assessment determine how likely it is that an event may occur, investigate solutions that will minimise the risk as much as possible and then start to take action.

4 - Ensure staff who are most likely to come into contact with these vehicles also have the required knowledge of how to handle the vehicle, each component, and what they must do to keep themselves safe.

5 - Keep records of everything!

I recommend the use of IDIS, the International Dismantling Information System that is available online (http://www.idis2.com), this gives access to safety and dismantling information for all European models and it is free to all EU based ELV businesses.