Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Fires—Metal Emission Hazard

Metals have a crucial impact on the environment and the economy. They constitute macro- and microelements essential for the proper functioning of living organisms. On the other hand, their excess can pose a life-threatening risk. Of particular economic importance are metals such as Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, Al, Cd, Fe, and Li, which are used, among other things, to build batteries in electric and hybrid cars. In the event of a cell fire, significant amounts of metals are rapidly released into the environment. The magnitude of emissions depends on the type of chemistry used in the battery and the type of extinguishing agent used to extinguish the fire. It should be noted that the available literature only provides information on the total amount or concentration of a given metal in the analyzed samples. However, there is no information on the speciation of metals, including their macro and nano forms, which is crucial for determining the toxicity and biological and chemical activity of a given element.