There are currently 2.3 million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road in the United States.1 Hybrid and electric vehicle sales increased more than 50 percent in March 2012 over the same month in 2011.2 By 2015 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has set a goal to add 1 million more, which it hopes to achieve as a result of the increased miles per gallon requirements that Congress has mandated for all new vehicles.3
Most hybrid and electric vehicles are equipped with safety systems that are designed to automatically shut the vehicle down in the event of a crash.4 When a hybrid or an electric vehicle is involved in a crash, however, there still are a number of special precautions of which first responders—including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and tow truck operators—must be aware to avoid death or serious injury.
