Marshals and Hybrid Cars

[aricus654]

Did I hear that marshals cannot touch hybrids until they are discharged?

Aricus

[Jason]

yes, should a hybrid have a failure of the system, although we are issued with very thick rubber gloves to handle the car, if the red light is on, it is advisable not to touch the car until a mechanic is on hand to neutralise the system. Bit of a problem if the driver needs help though

[aricus654]

Hmm... I wonder if cars should have a neutralising port to render them safe.

Has the ACO considered the risk of these high energy storage cells in a way that we've all grown used to managing the risks of liquid fuel?

That is, beyond thick rubber gloves?

Aricus

[Jason]

The batteries (high energy capacitors in reality) are not normally near the fuel tank. If I recall the briefing correctly, the biggest chance of injury to an outside person is touching the car barehanded as the carbon fibre conducts electricity.

Talking to the teams at Silverstone, the risk of something happening to the energy store is highly unlikely, but like everything there is a possibility (like fuel spill/fire) The gloves are for the incident marshal to wear when isolating the car should it stop out on track. But on most circuits, a mechanic is only a short quad bike ride away should it be a bigger problem.

[smokie]

Would they be batteries like these?

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/S4-2014%20ET-AOP.pdf

which might be a bit scary if one goes up when you are 30000 feet up.

[Chrisgr31]

yes, should a hybrid have a failure of the system, although we are issued with very thick rubber gloves to handle the car, if the red light is on, it is advisable not to touch the car until a mechanic is on hand to neutralise the system. Bit of a problem if the driver needs help though

Must admit it did seem to me to be a significant fail that one may need to wait for a course car to collect the mechanics from the pits, then potentially drive them 90% of the way round the circuit whilst I driver might be in urgent need of medical assistance.

Not sure when marshalls couldnt be issued with some form of earthing kit. 

[LuxExpat]

Having been up on Post 19 this year (Tertre Rouge), again, talking with some marshals we know, Jason's spot-on with his explanation.