Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is asking stakeholders to weigh in on the safety risks, operational challenges and regulatory considerations associated with using heavy-duty electric vehicles to transport hazardous materials.
“PHMSA aims to understand what impact the transition from [internal combustion engine] to EV motor carriers may have on hazmat packaging integrity, transportation safety, emergency response protocols, regulatory compliance and overall vehicle risk,” the agency states in a notice published Feb. 2.
“PHMSA may use the information gathered to develop a statement of work for further research into the safety of transporting hazardous materials in EVs.”
In the notice, the agency asks a series of questions covering:
- Hazmat packaging and containment risks
- Vehicle-specific safety and performance risks
- Infrastructure and charging considerations
- Regulatory compliance and standards
- Emergency response and incident mitigation
- Economic and operational feasibility
- Future research considerations
“PHMSA is seeking input from industry experts, fleet operators, manufacturers, emergency responders, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to help identify safety gaps, emerging safety innovations in transportation technology (or next-generation safety solutions), and potential regulatory adaptations related to hazmat transportation across various motor carrier technologies,” the notice states.
The deadline for comments is May 4.
