In the wake of a recent fire at Luton airport’s car park, speculation emerged suggesting an electric vehicle (EV) was the culprit. Although promptly debunked by the fire service, such rumors tend to persist, prompting a closer look at the realities of EV fires and their potential implications.
The Claim: Are Electric Cars More Prone to Fires? Claims surrounding electric car fires typically fall into two categories: a higher incidence and increased damage when fires occur. If substantiated, this could lead to various consequences, from altering parking space requirements to discussions about insurance premiums for EV owners.
The Science: What the Data Says With millions of electric cars on global roads, emerging data indicates that there’s no substantial reason to believe EVs are more susceptible to fires. In fact, experts suggest the opposite is true. Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, notes that data indicates EVs are far less likely to catch fire than their petrol counterparts, a fact often overlooked due to the underreporting of fires in traditional vehicles.
Fires in electric cars can be triggered by issues such as cell penetration or manufacturing errors leading to short-circuits. In petrol cars, electrical faults and overheating engines can cause fires. Data from Norway, with a high proportion of EV sales, shows between four and five times more fires in petrol and diesel cars. Australia’s EV FireSafe research reveals a 0.0012% chance of an EV battery catching fire compared to a 0.1% chance for internal combustion engine cars.
Any Caveats? While the data supports the notion that EVs pose a lower fire risk overall, some caveats exist. Videos of EV fires can be alarming due to the potential for rapid and intense combustion. Paul Christensen, a professor of electrochemistry, emphasizes that the reputation of electric cars is sometimes tarnished by incidents involving their lithium-ion cousins, such as electric scooters or bikes from inexperienced manufacturers.
Firefighters also face challenges in extinguishing EV fires, requiring more water, burning hotter, and having a higher chance of reigniting. Some fire departments have experimented with fully immersing electric cars in water tanks to address these challenges.
The Verdict: Understanding the Risk Despite the increased danger once an EV battery fire occurs, the probability of being caught in an EV fire appears significantly lower than for traditional petrol or diesel cars based on available data. However, ongoing research and monitoring are essential as the prevalence of EVs on the roads increases. While there may be concerns about potential future increases in EV fires as battery ages, at present, they would need to multiply significantly to surpass the fire risk associated with internal combustion engines.