Assessing Risks of Electric Vehicles in Underground Parking Facilities: Strategies for Enhancing Urban Sustainability

As cities confront the dual challenges of global warming and urban environmental degradation, adopting sustainable mobility strategies has become essential for future resilience and sustainability. The use of electric vehicles, which have minimal emissions and are constructed in an energy-efficient manner, represents a viable solution to this issue. Conversely, the secure and effective implementation of electric vehicles in car parks presents a multitude of technical and infrastructural challenges. Despite the anticipated substantial rise in the use of electric vehicles in the near future, there are proposals for them to be subject to a range of restrictions due to fire safety concerns. It has been established that charging processes represent the primary cause of fires in electric vehicles. The utilisation of charging stations in enclosed and particularly subterranean garages situated within edifices that serve a multiplicity of purposes, including commercial, residential and retail, is on the rise. As a result, it poses a greater risk in a potential fire scenario than a charging station located in the open air. The pressure on charging times, especially for electric vehicles, requires the use of chargers with a higher power rating, which may increase the risk. It is noted that although electric vehicle fires and combustion engine vehicle fires have similar characteristics, there are differences in the fire behavior of electric vehicles. This paper aims to provide a strategic guide to achieving urban sustainability goals by looking at innovative approaches to the deployment of electric vehicles in car parks and solutions to potential risks. The use of car parks is crucial to strengthening the role of electric vehicles in future urban mobility systems. It aims to facilitate the harmonisation of electric vehicles and charging stations, contributing to a more sustainable future by reducing the environmental impact of cities.