© Getty Images

Fiery potential -

Lithium-ion batteries, widely used in electric vehicles (EVs), can store immense energy. This makes their fires particularly intense, challenging to control, and incredibly dangerous.

© Getty Images

Statistics -

Lately, the news has reported on multiple occasions of EVs catching on fire, especially in the United States. With an estimated 40 million electric cars operating around the globe as of early 2024, one in 100,000 cars catches fire.

© Getty Images

Fighting fires -

Firefighters often require specialized training to tackle blazes created from lithium-ion batteries, given the unique and hazardous chemical reactions involved. And these batteries are everywhere! Indeed, the type of battery found in smartphones can also be found in electric vehicles.

© Getty Images

EVs versus gas vehicles -

Despite their reputation, electric vehicles are statistically safer than gas-powered vehicles in terms of fire risk. Gas cars, with combustible fuel systems, are far more prone to catching fire compared to EVs.

© Shutterstock

Structure -

Lithium-ion batteries are not solid bricks. Instead, they are made up of a collection of smaller batteries known as cells, all of which are pressed tightly against each other.

© Shutterstock

Primary causes -

Electric vehicle fires arise from two main causes: accidents, and manufacturing defects. Accidents involve physical damage to batteries, while defects originate during production of the vehicle, which potentially leads to catastrophic failures even during routine vehicle use.

© Shutterstock

Thermal runaway -

When an EV crashes and its battery is damaged, a fire may break out because of something called thermal runaway. When one of a battery’s cells is punctured, a chemical reaction creates a fire that soon spreads to other cells until the entire battery is burning. Lithium-ion batteries can burn for hours at a time.

© Shutterstock

Fire hazard -

All fires originating from EV batteries are dangerous, but fires resulting from manufacturing defects are quite possibly more alarming to consumers since they are more random. In 2017, Samsung had to recall 2.5 million cell phones because of battery issues that made them fire hazards.

© Getty Images

How manufacturing defects spark fires -

Defective battery cells can short circuit, which creates intense heat. This heat evaporates liquid electrolytes in the battery and generates gas. If temperatures rise further, the gas ignites, causing explosions that can quickly spread fire throughout the entire battery pack.

© Shutterstock

High-profile incidents -

Incidents like the South Korea EV parking lot fire in August 2024 (where over 100 vehicles were damaged after a single battery caught fire) highlight how manufacturing defects can result in widespread destruction.

© Getty Images

Saltwater damage -

When Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida toward the end of September 2024, around 11 electric cars and 48 lithium-ion batteries caught fire after being exposed to saltwater during floods.

© Getty Images

Waiting to explode -

When batteries are exposed to saltwater in any manner, they essentially become ticking time bombs. Fires don’t occur immediately, but rather take days or even weeks after exposure before making an appearance.

© Getty Images

Global ban -

Some companies around the world have started banning EVs on container ships and even ferries. The US Coast Guard has also banned damaged EVs from being transported by sea.

© Shutterstock

Reignition risks -

EV battery fires pose ongoing risks even after being extinguished. Residual energy in undamaged cells can reignite even days later, and so firefighters and tow operators must remain vigilant to mitigate potential secondary ignitions.

© Getty Images

How to react -

If an EV catches fire while you’re driving, pull over immediately, turn off the vehicle, and exit safely. Once you’re at a safe distance of at least 100 feet (30 meters), you should call emergency services. Never prioritize retrieving belongings over personal safety in such scenarios.

© Shutterstock

Extinguishing EV fires -

Attempting to put out an EV fire on your own is dangerous. Chemical fires require about 10 times more water or specialized agents to dampen, and even trained firefighters often let EV fires burn out due to the immense resources needed to suppress them.

© Getty Images

Extinguisher -

Even packing a fire extinguisher in your car and trying to use it wouldn’t help. Since burning lithium-ion batteries are so stubborn, a fire extinguisher would do very little to mitigate the flames.

© Shutterstock

Submersible container -

One way to suppress an EV fire is to completely submerge the burning vehicle in a massive container filled with water. Toxic runoff would be practically eliminated, but the vehicle must be kept in the container for weeks to prevent the possibility of reigniting the fire.

© Shutterstock

Toxic danger of fire fumes -

Burning EV batteries release toxic fumes that pose serious health risks. Keeping a safe distance minimizes exposure to these harmful gases. First responders are trained to handle such situations and should be the only ones near the scene.

© Shutterstock

Environmental impact -

The toxic chemicals released by EV fires can find their way into the air and water, posing environmental risks. EVs are meant to be a more sustainable transportation alternative, so mitigating these incidents is critical for the health of the planet.

© Shutterstock

Modern cooling system -

Modern electric vehicles have been designed in ways that allow them to cool down their own battery packs in one of two ways. Older and less expensive EVs are built to dissipate heat as air moves over the battery packs.

© Shutterstock

Liquid coolant -

More high-end EVs have a liquid cooling system installed in the batteries, which circulates coolant throughout the cells in a similar fashion to the radiators of gas-powered cars.

© Shutterstock

A safeguard against fires -

Modern EVs also employ battery management systems (BMS) to monitor and regulate cells. These systems detect overheating or irregularities and prevent batteries from reaching critical failure points.

© Shutterstock

A safer alternative -

Solid-state batteries (which replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid materials) show promise for improving EV safety. Their inherent stability could significantly reduce the likelihood of fires and offer a safer future for electric transportation.

© Shutterstock

Scaling challenges -

While solid-state batteries are already used in smaller electronics, scaling them up for EVs may be technically and economically difficult. But if these hurdles can be overcome, then battery safety and performance could be revolutionized.

© Shutterstock

The future of safety standards -

As EV adoption grows, regulatory standards for battery production and testing are becoming stricter. These regulations aim to ensure manufacturing quality and reduce the likelihood of fires caused by defects or poor engineering practices.

© Shutterstock

Insurance -

Insurers are slowly adapting policies to account for the unique risks posed by EV fires. Comprehensive coverage ensures consumers are protected against damages, while insurers advocate for higher safety standards in EV manufacturing.

© Shutterstock

Statistically improbable -

While it’s important to be prepared for any situation in which an EV fire breaks out, it is also imperative to be calm. Electric car fires are less prevalent than people might think, regardless of the number of news reports that appear over time.

© Shutterstock

Safer electric vehicles -

Ongoing research, technological innovation, and regulatory support are key to making EVs safer. From advanced battery designs to robust safety systems, the future of electric vehicles will only grow in safety, especially as green energy takes over worldwide.

Sources: (Wired) (Edmunds) (CTIF) (International Council on Clean Transportation)

See also: The fascinating future of sustainable transport

© Shutterstock