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Heard: bill to ban electric vehicles in enclosed commercial parking garages draws technical debate
Summary
Supporters of HB 182, citing firefighting and structural risks from EV battery fires in enclosed garages, asked lawmakers to prohibit EVs in commercial parking garages; opponents and state agencies urged more study and pointed to low EV‑fire incidence and pending statewide research.
Representative Steve Pearson introduced HB 182, a bill that would prohibit the operation of electric vehicles in enclosed commercial parking garages, arguing that lithium‑ion battery fires create extreme hazards for firefighters and can threaten garage structures.
“Electric vehicles… produce a tremendous amount of toxic smoke,” Pearson said, and he described incidents in which extinguishing an EV fire required extensive resources. Pearson said some EV battery fires have required resource‑intensive responses and that garages and sprinkler systems were not designed for the heat load of thermal‑runaway battery fires.
Witnesses were sharply divided. Chris Goveland (Clean Energy New Hampshire) and other opponents said available data show EVs currently account for a small fraction of vehicle fires and that internal combustion vehicles still generate many more fire claims. Goveland urged referral to the legislative Lithium‑Battery Fire Council established last year (Senate Bill 430) and recommended waiting for national research and the council’s final report before acting. “The data is inconclusive and it needs more study,” he said.
Jessica Wilcox of the Department of Environmental Services told the committee DES does not take a position for or against the bill but asked the legislature to consider the ongoing work of the state’s Lithium‑Battery Fire Council; the council’s interim report is available and a final report is due later in the year, DES said. She also noted that US building codes design parking floors to “live loads” and that many existing structures anticipate future vehicle weight increases.
John Marasco, DMV director, and several municipal representatives described limited administrative cost to add new policies but stressed more study was needed on how to implement and enforce a ban. Testimony from Clean Energy New Hampshire and municipal EV proponents noted Norway and other high‑EV markets have not seen widespread garage collapse or severe fire rates comparable to internal combustion vehicle fires.
Other witnesses who opposed the bill noted that restricting EVs would affect employers and hospitals that already provide garage charging and charging access for employees and visitors.
The committee did not vote on HB 182. DES and the Lithium‑Battery Fire Council materials were offered to the committee as resources for further review; several witnesses urged an interim study or referral to the technical council before legislative action.
