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Howard County to build specialized impound lot for electric vehicles; council members question $400,000 cost
Summary
Howard County police presented a FY26 capital request for an outdoor, fire‑containment impound lot designed for damaged or impounded electric vehicles. Council members pressed officials on the $400,000 cost, site and intended uses; police and fire officials said the design is intended to limit catastrophic spread if a battery fire occurs.
Howard County police are requesting $400,000 in the FY2026 capital budget to build a specialized outdoor impound lot intended to contain fires from electric‑vehicle batteries.
During the council’s capital work session, Councilmember Deb Rigby and others questioned the cost and whether the lot is to serve fleet parking or evidence storage. Police officials said the lot is for impounded vehicles held for investigative reasons — not for everyday fleet parking — and will incorporate specifications to contain, isolate and suppress the kind of high‑heat, battery‑driven fires that first responders have encountered.
Police describ…
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