LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Two semi-truck carrying lithium batteries caught fire in two months.
Both shut down parts of major freeways. The first created a traffic mess on I-15 in late July. The second currently has a section of US-95 closed with no word on when it will reopen.
Regulations on transporting lithium batteries aren’t straight forward.
A lot goes into transporting lithium batteries and they are regulated as hazardous material under the US Department of Transportation.
The US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said regulations require that lithium batteries pass design tests before they get on the road. After that, the manufacturer has to make a report about the testing.
There are a number of guidelines on how to transport lithium batteries on roads and highways but how depends on their size and wattage.
FOX5 is working to figure out the size and wattage of the batteries involved in either of the…
