Ford Explorer: Roadside Emergencies / Collision, Damage or Fire Event

Guidance for Ford Motor Company Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles Equipped With High Voltage Batteries

(Vehicle Owner/Operator/General Public) Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Considerations

In the event of damage or fire involving an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle:

• Always assume the high-voltage battery and associated components are energized and fully charged.
• Exposed electrical components, wires, and high-voltage batteries present potential high-voltage shock hazards.
• Venting high-voltage battery vapors are potentially toxic and flammable.
• Physical damage to the vehicle or high-voltage battery may result in immediate or delayed release of toxic, flammable gases and fire.

Vehicle information and general safety practices:

• Know the make and model of your vehicle.
• Review the owner’s manual and become familiar with your vehicle’s safety information and recommended safety practices.
• Do not attempt to repair damaged electric and hybrid-electric vehicles yourself.

Contact an authorized dealer.

Crashes

A crash or impact significant enough to require an emergency response for conventional vehicles would also require the same response for an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle.

If possible:

• Move your vehicle to a safe, nearby location and remain on the scene.
• Roll down the windows before switching your vehicle off.
• Place your vehicle in park (P), set the parking brake, switch off the vehicle, activate the hazard warning flashers and move your key(s) at least 15 ft (5 m) away from the vehicle.

Always:

• Call emergency assistance if needed and advise that an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle is involved.
•     Exposed electrical components, wires, and high-voltage batteries present potential high-voltage shock hazards.
• Avoid contact with leaking fluids and gases, and remain out of the way of oncoming traffic until emergency responders arrive.
• When emergency responders arrive, tell them that the vehicle involved is an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle.

Fires

As with any vehicle, call emergency assistance immediately if you see sparks, smoke or flames coming from the vehicle. Remain a safe distance from the vehicle and try to stay clear of the smoke.

• Exit the vehicle immediately.
• Advise emergency assistance that an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle is involved.
• As with any vehicle fire, do not inhale smoke, vapors or gas from the vehicle, as they may be hazardous.
• Stay out of the roadway and stay out of the way of any oncoming traffic while awaiting the arrival of emergency responders.

Post-Incident

• Do not store a severely damaged vehicle with a lithium-ion battery inside a structure or within 49 ft (15 m) of any structure or vehicle.
• Make sure that passenger and luggage compartments remain ventilated.
• Call emergency assistance if you observe leaking fluids, sparks, smoke or flames, or hear gurgling or bubbling from the high-voltage battery.

Post-Crash Alert System

The system flashes the direction indicators and sounds the horn (intermittently) in the event of a serious impact that deploys an airbag (front, side, side curtain or Safety Canopy) or the seatbelt pretensioners.

The horn and indicators turn off when:

• You press the hazard control button.
• You press the panic button on the remote entry transmitter (if equipped).
• Your vehicle runs out of power.
• Sounding of the horn is only enabled in specific markets.