ASECAP convened its 18th Road Safety Conference on 9 March 2026 in Chambéry, hosted by ASFA Autoroutes and held alongside the 17th World Congress on Road Winter Service, Resilience and Decarbonisation by PIARC – World Road Association.

The event brought together motorway operators, public authorities, researchers and industry specialists to examine evolving safety challenges and the solutions needed to keep users and road workers protected as mobility systems become more digital, connected and electrified.

Confronting a Growing Operational Challenge

One of the most pressing issues on motorway networks is the rising complexity of incidents involving electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. As electrification accelerates, operators are encountering new fire behaviours, unpredictable escalation patterns and increased risks when incidents occur near tunnels or critical infrastructure.

These challenges framed a dedicated technical session, Managing EV Fire Risks in the Age of Electromobility, moderated by Professor Bernard Jacob from the Université Gustave Eiffel. The session provided a platform to present real cases, operational insights and actionable tools for strengthening preparedness across Europe’s motorway systems.

IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis Shares Lessons From Real Incidents

Representing the International Road Federation (IRF) and drawing on his role as Chief Operating Officer of Aegean Motorway S.A., IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis delivered a case-based intervention that grounded the session in operational reality.

Mandalozis presented two fire incidents from July 2024 involving heavy vehicles transporting electric bicycles with lithium-ion batteries. Both cases demonstrated rapid fire escalation, persistent re-ignition risks and dense toxic smoke which are factors that significantly complicate emergency response and heighten safety exposure for both users and responders. The proximity of one event to a tunnel underscored the stakes for infrastructure operators, who must make time-critical decisions under emerging conditions that traditional response protocols, were not designed to manage.

By detailing how crews confronted these incidents on the Aegean Motorway network, Dimitrios highlighted a clear trend: as electric mobility expands, conventional risk models are no longer sufficient.

The role of IRF Leadership

Dimitrios’ contribution aligned with IRF’s broader work to help road operators adapt to the energy transition through improved knowledge, capacity and data-driven decision-making. His intervention emphasised practical measures -specialised training, revised emergency procedures, targeted investment in new equipment and stronger coordination with fire and rescue services.

These insights reinforce IRF’s role in helping operators translate emerging risks into concrete preparedness steps, ensuring that new mobility technologies do not compromise motorway safety.

Shared Expertise for a Shared Challenge

Alongside Dimitrios, the session included:

• Thomas Bergerot (Egis, France) – outlining framework approaches for managing EV fire risks.
• Sideris Konstantinos (Nea Odos, Greece) – presenting a decision-gate playbook for tunnel and open-road environments.

Together, the speakers provided a coherent set of operational lessons that motorway operators can integrate into daily practice.