A 2023 study by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that water used to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires contains lithium at 30 to 110 milligrams per liter, fluoride at 4 to 70 milligrams per liter, and PFAS concentrations up to 4,700 nanograms per liter, with all tested samples showing high toxicity to aquatic organisms at concentrations as low as 2 percent. When Merrimack, New Hampshire firefighters used approximately 60,000 gallons to suppress the Lucid Gravity reignition at Bailey's Towing on April 7, that volume of contaminated runoff entered the ground at a commercial tow yard with no environmental containment in place.
Operator takeaway
If a damaged EV reignites on your lot and fire crews pour tens of thousands of gallons to suppress it, you may face environmental remediation liability for contaminated soil and groundwater. Ask your insurance carrier now whether your policy covers hazardous materials cleanup from EV battery fire runoff.