Jaws of Death and Hybrids

Denicio · 10-20-2009, 03:39 PM

A buddy of mine who is in the armed servies has many firemen buddies who ALL claim to hate the Prius. Why? Supposedly when they have to extract someone with the jaws of death, and they cut the top door frame, that is where toyota's power wire harness goes to the battery. So resuce workers may get a zap when helping you out.

Does anyone know:
A. If this is true
B. Is the power wire harness from the battery to the engine on the G2Insights are located in the same place?

Thanks

Dennis

jonniedee · 10-20-2009, 03:50 PM

They're "JAWS OF LIFE"
Having shot news of guys using these they can be dangerous no matter what car...

Denicio · 10-20-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonniedee

They're "JAWS IF LIFE"
Having shot news of guys using these they can be dangerous no matter what car...

Does anyone know if the battery power harness runs down the door frames at the top? Or did they place them under the floor board?

The insight and prius are two VERY DIFFERENT types of hybrids with different power usage.

D

numbness4sound · 10-20-2009, 03:58 PM

I seem to recall reading an article about a Honda dealership that held a demonstration for firefighters about where to cut into a hybrid. Since is was about "hybrids" rather than "Insights," it makes me think that perhaps they ARE wired the same way. But personally I have no idea.

jonniedee · 10-20-2009, 04:05 PM

This looks like the Hi voltage runs UNDER the car

numbness4sound · 10-20-2009, 04:09 PM

Couldn't find the original article, but here's a blog with the press release for the event.

Lehigh Valley Honda to Host Free Hybrid Car Safety Clinic for Area Firefighters and First Responders | Vinart TV

nursemike · 10-20-2009, 06:11 PM

I still work part time for a fire dept. This is news to me. We've looked at both my hybrids and a Prius and all high voltage cables I've ever come across are on the bottom of the car. The airbag inflation cylinders may be in the A pillars, and some cars (like Subarus), have high tensile strength steel cages that are extremely difficult to cut through, but the high voltage lines running through the upper structure of a car is something I've never seen at this point.

ikhoudvanu199 · 10-20-2009, 08:46 PM

AFAIK, all hybrids have the high voltage wires running under the car, and encased in very bright orange covers, so as to be very noticable and distinct for safety's sake

Cobb · 10-21-2009, 12:11 AM

Thats just a urban myth, like the one about state tropers keeping a can of coke in their trunk for washing blood stains off the highway.

Why would any automanufacture run high voltage cables over head or through the pillars?

They are center of the car where the drive shaft or propeller shaft should be.

Fl_Fyr_Fytr · 10-21-2009, 08:49 AM

It's true that hybrids pose new problems for the fire service but I have never heard of this one. Know what the first thing a FF does upon arriving at the scene of a serious accident? He cuts the battery cables to prevent fuel-lighting sparks from shorts and possible post-accident deployment of the airbags. High-voltage hybrid lines pose new problems though...