This report highlights two incidents involving truck crashes and subsequent lithium battery fires on highways in Nevada and California.
The recent crash on U.S. 95, and a similar one in July on I-15, have raised concerns about the safety of transporting lithium batteries. Representative Dina Titus, running for re-election, advocates for stronger federal regulations through her Thermal Runaway Reduction Act to address these risks.
Lithium battery fires require extensive resources to extinguish, exacerbating concerns about road closures and water usage.
Paul Enos of the Nevada Trucking Association emphasized that lithium is just one of many hazardous materials transported across U.S. highways, noting that some chemicals are even more dangerous.
With Nevada advancing lithium mining, stricter regulations on battery transport are seen as vital for public safety.