PI: Junfeng Zhao, Ph.D.
Co-PI: Jeffrey Wishart, Ph.D., Mingfeng Shang, Ph.D., Jun Zhao, Ph.D., Brendan J Russo, Ph.D., P.E.
Sponsor: Arizona DOT - Arizona Transportation Institute (ADOT-AZTI)
Aug. 2026 - Jan. 2028
The work plan for this project is designed to support the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) in understanding and improving practices for managing roadway incidents involving zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. As these vehicles become more common across Arizona, crashes involving them present new challenges for incident response, traffic operations, roadway restoration, and interagency coordination. Compared with conventional vehicles, ZEVs can involve high-voltage electrical systems, lithium-ion battery damage,
hydrogen storage hazards, and incident conditions that may require additional precautions before damaged vehicles can be moved or roadways can be safely reopened. These issues affect not only first responders, but also ADOT personnel responsible for traffic control, situational awareness, infrastructure inspection, and post-incident restoration. The findings from this study will help ADOT better understand the national state of practice, evaluate its current procedures, and develop a practical framework for Arizona-specific implementation.