LOCATION: British Columbia
Issue/Source: Media Article: Transport Canada Change Forces BC Ferries to Prohibit Damaged Electric Vehicles
Date: July 2025
Suggested Responses
- Damaged or malfunctioning lithium batteries can pose a serious fire hazard, carrying even greater risks in confined spaces such as a roll-on/roll-off ferry.
- This is why Transport Canada requires that damaged or defective lithium vehicle batteries be removed from a vehicle and transported separately, in accordance with existing guidelines and regulations. These requirements have been in place since 2014.
- If a damaged electric vehicle (EV) still contains its battery, the ferry operator is responsible for determining whether the transportation of the EV would pose a risk to the safety of passengers and crew.
IF PRESSED
- Alternative arrangements to transport a damaged EV or battery can be made through commercial cargo or barge operators in the region.
- To date, no issues or incidents involving EVs on commercial marine vessels have been reported to Transport Canada.
- A media article published by CHEK News indicated that there had been a change to Transport Canada’s regulations. This is not the case and BC Ferries has issued a statement clarifying their policy on the matter.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- To mitigate the risks of a catastrophic fire, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations and the Cargo, Fumigation and Tackle Regulations prohibit the transportation of damaged lithium batteries unless they are removed from the vehicle, properly packed in a suitable container, and labelled as a dangerous good.
- Because damage to an electric vehicle (EV) battery is not always apparent when the battery remains in a vehicle, ferry operators have discretion to determine whether a damaged EV should be accepted for transport if the battery has not been removed.
- While the above-noted federal regulatory requirements have been in place since 2014, BC Ferries recently updated its procedures on the transportation of EVs and their batteries to further mitigate risk. This has resulted in the company refusing some damaged EVs for transport because the condition of the battery in the damaged EV was unknown to the vessel operator.
- Generally, dealerships and repair shops shipping damaged EV batteries do so via cargo or barge (i.e., removed from the vehicle and packed in a dangerous goods-designated crate).
- To date, no instances of incidents involving electric vehicles on commercial marine vessels have been reported to Transport Canada.
- The change in BC Ferries’ policy was raised with local media by a tow truck operator with a damaged EV in tow after the operator was refused ferry access. The subsequent media article incorrectly stated that recent Transport Canada regulatory changes were the reason BC Ferries was prohibiting the carriage of damaged EVs.
- On Monday, June 30, 2025, BC Ferries issued a statement to media outlets who covered this story to clarify the issue.