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Mass. FD gets tool to immobilize electric vehicles after crash

Newton Fire Capt. Phillip McCully said he hopes the emergency-plug makes responding to crashes involving electric vehicles safer

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Photo/Newton Fire Department

By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1

NEWTON, Mass. — A Massachusetts fire department is one of the first in the U.S. to have a device that can immobilize an electric vehicle after a crash.

The emergency-plug “essentially tricks the vehicle into thinking it is in park, rather than cutting the power entirely,” WBUR reported.

First responders in Europe, the Middle East and Asia already use the tool. It is in use in New York City.

https://twitter.com/NewtonFireDept/status/1613138438697484290

“What this will do is hopefully transform the way first responders will be responding,” said Newton Fire Capt. Phillip McCully, “and being a little bit safer with electric vehicle accidents.”

The entire Newton Fire Department will be trained on using the plug by the end of the month.