Battery safety ? Insulated tools !!!

[NNichols]

So the service manager at the dealership tells me the shop has to use insulated tools.

What this; are the cars electric time bombs ready to electrocute an unsuspecting owner ??

I would expect to exercise some normal safety caution. I don't work under the hood with exposed battery terminals.


I loosing my enthusiasm for this potential purchase..

 

[Nubo]

Obviously an electric car is going to have high voltage wiring. Insulated tools seem like a reasonable precaution for conducting (heh) service.

I haven't heard of any incidents that would suggest the LEAF is unsafe. If there had been even minor incidents, belive me the media would have made a big deal of it.

 

[surfingslovak]

You could pull the emergency disconnect switch, which could prove to be equally if not more effective.

 

[EVDRIVER]

Insulated tools are needed for working on HV systems, things touch and it gets ugly. There have been people killed working on EVs, it has not been in the press. I would not doubt there have been incidents here that are not reported.

 

[ebill3]

So the service manager at the dealership tells me the shop has to use insulated tools.
What this; are the cars electric time bombs ready to electrocute an unsuspecting owner ??

Of course not.

I would expect to exercise some normal safety caution. I don't work under the hood with exposed battery terminals.

If working under the hood, although there is very to be done, you will not be exposed to the traction battery's >390 volts. And, as mentioned, there is a disconnect. When working near or with the 12 volt battery, same procedures and cautions as an ICE vehicle.

I loosing my enthusiasm for this potential purchase..

IMHO that is a pretty odd and unwarranted conclusion.