We're delighted to work with Allianz Insurance Australia to source and donate salvaged electric vehicles to fire and emergency agencies for road rescue training.
Believe it or not, many agencies and responders haven't had the opportunity to train with EVs, despite the number of registrations doubling year on year globally.
Allianz Insurance Australia and EV FireSafe have partnered to donate eight electric vehicles (EVs) to fire and emergency agencies across Australia. This initiative marks a significant step forward in ensuring that first responders have access to real EVs for critical road rescue training. So far, EVs have been donated to the Queensland Fire Department (QFD), Country Fire Authority (CFA), Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES), South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS), and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
These donations highlight the power of strong relationships between EV FireSafe as a global leader in the EV fire and safety sector, Allianz Australia Insurance, and emergency services in enhancing public safety. By working together, Allianz Australia Insurance and EV FireSafe are ensuring that fire and rescue teams are better prepared for the rapidly evolving landscape of electric vehicle incidents.
Hands-on EV training is essential for road rescuers
As electric vehicles become more common on Australian roads, emergency responders must stay ahead of the curve in understanding their unique challenges. Traditional road rescue techniques often do not apply to EVs, which have high-voltage battery systems, different structural designs, and unique fire risks.
Key reasons why hands-on EV training is crucial:
Understanding High-Voltage Risks – EVs operate with high-voltage systems (typically 400V-800V). Rescuers need to know where and how to safely disconnect power to avoid the risk of electrocution
Fire and Thermal Runaway Training – Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs present the risk of thermal runaway, where damaged battery cells can reignite even after a fire is suppressed
Extrication and Structural Considerations – EVs have reinforced battery enclosures and different crash structures, requiring adapted extrication techniques to safely remove occupants in an accident
Stranded Energy Risks – Even after an EV fire is extinguished, its battery may retain dangerous levels of energy, posing risks to emergency crews and tow truck operators handling the vehicle post-incident
These are not skills that can be taught online, or by people without first hand experience and qualifications in EV battery fires or high voltage systems.
Our strong partnership with Allianz Insurance Australia benefits emergency agencies training for EV road rescues
With very few pathways to obtain EVs for road rescue training, the donation of these EVs was made possible through a shared commitment to safety and innovation. Allianz Insurance Australia, a leading provider of automotive insurance, frequently deals with damaged and written-off vehicles. Their support is just one of the many industry partnerships, both domestically and globally, EV FireSafe has built, enabling Allianz Insurance Australia to repurpose these vehicles for life-saving training instead of scrapping them.
Our team, which has extensive experience in handling damaged EVs and EV fire investigation, then organised for the battery packs to be removed, ensuring responder safety during training operations.
And there are direct benefits to both fire and emergency services, as well as the Australian community
So far, donated EVs have been distributed to key fire and emergency agencies, each of whom plays a vital role in road safety and emergency response:
Queensland Fire Department – Enhancing statewide EV fire response strategies
Country Fire Authority (CFA) – Providing training for volunteers across regional Victoria
Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) – Equipping SES teams with essential EV extrication skills
South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) – Supporting regional emergency response improvements
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) – Strengthening metropolitan response capabilities for EV-related incidents
By placing these vehicles directly into the hands of emergency responders, Allianz Insurance Australia and EV FireSafe are ensuring that teams across Australia are not just theoretically trained on EV safety—but have the practical experience needed to handle real-world incidents.
This is a future-focused approach to EV occupant safety
This initiative is more than just a donation—it’s a strategic investment in public safety. As EV adoption continues to rise, similar partnerships will be essential in making sure emergency responders are properly equipped and trained.
Looking ahead, Allianz Insurance Australia and EV FireSafe aim to expand this program, working with more agencies to increase access to EV training resources. Their collaboration serves as a model for how insurers, industry experts, and emergency services can work together to build a safer future on Australian roads.
Allianz Insurance Australia and EV FireSafe have set a new benchmark for how insurers and industry leaders can support first responders with the tools they need. And, as more EVs take to the roads, it’s vital that emergency responders have ongoing access to hands-on, interactive and real-world training opportunities, and this initiative directly contributes to improving EV emergency response nationally.
To learn more about EV safety and EV FireSafe's Electric Responder fire response training, please get in touch with our team!
EV FireSafe is funded by the Australian Department of Defence to research electric vehicle battery fires and emergency response. Our team, made up of firefighters, electrification, incident management and research experts, also support safe transition to EVs for companies in the aerodrome, mining, shipping, retail, military and other specialist sectors.
Our research is published at www.evfiresafe.com and eLearning at www.evfiresafe.training
Contact us via emma@evfiresafe.com