By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1
NEWTON, Mass. — A Massachusetts fire department is one of the first in the U.S. to have a device that can immobilize an electric vehicle after a crash.
The emergency-plug “essentially tricks the vehicle into thinking it is in park, rather than cutting the power entirely,” WBUR reported.
First responders in Europe, the Middle East and Asia already use the tool. It is in use in New York City.
We are very excited to announce we are the 2nd fire department in the country to have this new Electrical Vehicle tool. The emergency plug, is the best tool to put an EV to “sleep”,making it safer for our responders. Our department will be putting this new tool in service soon! pic.twitter.com/68Rd4Fqyjk
— Newton Fire (@NewtonFireDept) January 11, 2023
“What this will do is hopefully transform the way first responders will be responding,” said Newton Fire Capt. Phillip McCully, “and being a little bit safer with electric vehicle accidents.”
The entire Newton Fire Department will be trained on using the plug by the end of the month.
