Broken down hybrid is live ?

[Sussexlad]

I just caught end of a highway rescue scenario, where a broken down hybrid was blocking a lane but couldn't be moved prior to the arrival of an expert in hybrids because they might be live ! What's actually the issue here? Electrics and fuel I can understand but don't all cars have those? Big battery/electrolyte ? just interested.

Cheers

[redsturgeon]

There are extremely high voltages involved with electric/hybrid cars that mean there is a very real prospect of electrocution if you don't know what you are doing with a damaged one.

John

[jackdaww]

There are extremely high voltages involved with electric/hybrid cars that mean there is a very real prospect of electrocution if you don't know what you are doing with a damaged one.

John

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thats news to me .

do you know where these very high voltages come from ?

an inverter perhaps , but high voltage ?

[redsturgeon]

There are extremely high voltages involved with electric/hybrid cars that mean there is a very real prospect of electrocution if you don't know what you are doing with a damaged one.

John

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thats news to me .

do you know where these very high voltages come from ?

an inverter perhaps , but high voltage ?

600 to 700 volts

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 16786.html

[Grumpsimus]

thats news to me .

do you know where these very high voltages come from ?

The high voltages come from the rechargeable batteries, roughly in the range 144 -375 volts DC, certainly enough to kill a person. Some models have converters that produce 675 volts AC for running the electric motors.

There are other hazards as well. Hybrids can start the internal combustion without any obvious warning, which is clearly a hazard to anyone working on or near the car. Also hybrids should only be towed with all four wheels off the ground, the wheels are connected to the electric motors which charge the batteries during braking etc. If towed with the wheels on the ground they could cause the rechargeable batteries to overheat and catch fire.

You really do need to know what you are doing around hybrids.