As electric vehicles become increasingly common on Canadian roads, training programs for service technicians are evolving to meet emerging safety challenges, especially those related to high-voltage lithium batteries.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) this year began incorporating a Connecticut-based battery safety technology into several of its automotive courses, part of efforts to prepare technicians for a growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in British Columbia.
According to data from Clean Energy Canada, a nonprofit focused on accelerating clean energy adoption, nearly 23 % of all new vehicle registrations in British Columbia in 2024 were zero-emission vehicles, the highest such rate in North America. That equates to more than 153,000 EVs on British Columbia highways, underscoring the expanding need for trained EV service professionals capable of safely handling high-voltage systems.
Integrating Safety Technology into EV Education
To address these demands, BCIT’s School of Transportation has adopted patented lithium battery safety materials from Packaging And Crating Technologies (PACT), a U.S. manufacturer of industrial packaging and safety solutions. The technology, originally developed for shipping and storing lithium battery-powered products, is being used in classroom and shop settings as part of BCIT’s EV technician training.
The Thermo Shield line of fire-suppressant paper wrap.Guessing Headlights
PACT’s Thermo Shield line is a fire-suppressant paper wrap designed to mitigate the risk of thermal runaway, a phenomenon in which lithium batteries can overheat and catch fire. The material consists of a lightweight paper coated with proprietary ink that, when exposed to high temperatures, releases a moisture barrier and vapor cloud that cools internal components and limits oxygen, helping stop battery fires at source. Independent testing in the U.S. and Canada supports its effectiveness, and it has earned endorsements and permits from multiple industry and governmental bodies.
Jim Berladyn, an automotive technologist instructor at BCIT, says he first saw Thermo Shield at the 2023 National Battery Show in Michigan. “I’ve been to a lot of EV shows throughout my career and was immediately impressed with PACT’s hands-on display and powerful videos of how the products both prevent and extinguish lithium battery fires within seconds,” he said, explaining why BCIT chose to integrate the technology into its curriculum.
Battery Cell Protection and Classroom Application
Building on Thermo Shield, PACT developed TR Sleeve, a thin, recyclable paper wrap intended to mitigate thermal runaway propagation between cells within battery packs used in EVs, e-buses, e-bikes, and other electric mobility equipment. By wrapping individual battery cells, the product aims to provide protection without reducing overall energy density.
Berladyn says BCIT’s Electric Vehicle Technology and Service course, which trains Automotive Service Technicians to safely diagnose, service and repair high-voltage EV systems, will utilize TR Sleeve™ as a teaching device, helping students understand how thermal events can spread and how such materials can be used to mitigate risks.
Looking Ahead: Fire Suppression Development
BCIT also anticipates incorporating another PACT product still in development: the PACT Lion-X Fire Extinguisher, described by PACT as a pre-mixed, water-based solution designed to quench lithium battery fires exceeding 1,600 °F within seconds while minimizing toxic gas release. The company says it is targeted for availability later this year.
“By partnering with forward-thinking companies like PACT, we are providing our students with valuable knowledge that will prevent accidents and save lives,” Berladyn said, highlighting the educational value of integrating real-world safety technologies into training.
Why It Matters
EV training programs across Canada, including those supported through initiatives such as Trades Training BC and the provincial EV Maintenance Training Program, already emphasize safe handling of high-voltage systems, reflecting industry and government efforts to develop a qualified EV service workforce.
By bringing battery safety products into the classroom, BCIT aims to ensure that graduates enter the field with not only theoretical knowledge but hands-on familiarity with technologies designed to address some of the most pressing safety concerns in modern vehicle service.
PACT Thermo Shield was invented in 2019 as a thermal management system for shipping and storing items containing lithium batteries. It consists of thin, lightweight, paper material coated with proprietary ink. When a lithium battery goes into thermal runaway and burns, the special ink releases a moisture barrier that creates a vapor cloud to immediately cool the internal contents of the package, which stops a fire entirely, while limiting oxygen around the package to prevent the battery temperature from escalating to 1,500° Fahrenheit, at which point, lethal gases form.
