The Detroit Fire Department is set to fuse tradition with innovation by hosting an EV-focused workshop featuring John Waters, the brain behind GM's EV1 battery, and former local firefighter-turned-CEO Ron Butler. This forum aims to school first responders from near and far on the latest techniques in managing lithium-ion battery emergencies, an ever-pressing concern in our increasingly electric world.
The free workshop, crafted for fire department personnel, emergency management teams, and hazmat crews from the U.S. and Canada, will offer a full day's agenda: morning tech talks followed by afternoon hands-on demos. Eager to proactively arm their responders with vital know-how, fire officials recognize the low-incidence but high-risk nature of lithium-ion battery fires and are seeking to properly prepare themselves and the public, according to the City of Detroit.
John Waters at Waters & Associates, the inventor recorded for the first mass-produced EV auto battery, and Ron Butler, CEO of ESSPI, bring their patented expertise directly to the front lines. Their collective experience promises to not only inform but also practically equip attendees through dynamic demonstrations on lithium-ion battery storage, handling, and fire suppression.
The workshop serves as a precursor to the Battery Show and EVT Expo debuting in Detroit, bringing an influx of innovators and leaders in the industry. All activities will unfurl at Newlab at Michigan Central, located at 2050 15th Street, on October 9, from 8 am to 4 pm.
