Are Electric Vehicles Fire Safe?
In short: Yes, they are! In fact, evidence suggests that lithium-ion batteries used in EVs are in fact as safe or even safer than conventional fuel vehicles. While EVs fires have been recorded in Australia and around the world, there are numerous studies that show that fires in EVs are no more likely or even less likely to occur than fires in traditional Internal Combustion Engine vehicles.
EVs do not carry fuel, they don't need a catalytic converter, and their electrical engines don't over heat; those are the principal causes of fire in a car.
But in case of a car accident or an electrical system failure, EVs could still catch fire and burst into flames.
So are you prepared for an EV Fire ?
A fire can happen and it’s important to always be prepared for what you would do if you had one in your Electric Car or Vehicle.
There are no mandatory or legal requirements in Australia to have fire extinguishers in your personal vehicles (except for motorhomes and caravans*). But of course, having the right safety equipment to protect your EV against fire, such as a Lithium Ion Battery fire extinguisher is essential to protect your passengers and vehicle.
Electric Vehicles in Australia
Over the past 10 years, the number of road registered electric vehicles (plug-in hybrid and full battery) has been growing by 68% on average year on year.
Electric vehicle sales in Australia have shown steady growth, with 85,319 units sold by the end of September 2024. EVs now account for 9.5% of all new car sales in Australia, marking an increase from 8.4% in 2023 and a 150% increase in market share compared with 2022. With this momentum, light EV sales will hit approximately 110,000 units by year-end – which is a major milestone for the Australian market.
In the UK, they already represent 24% of the new car market, 40% in Germany and even 76% in Norway.
If this trend continues, we expect total EV sales to reach at least 15-19% in 2026.
(data sourced on electricvehiclecouncil.com.au)
EV fires statistics in Australia
It is difficult to locate statistics about electric car (plug-in hybrid and full battery) fire-related incidents in Australian states and territories, and even more challenging to find statistics that can be compared in a meaningful way.
The NSW Department of Fire and Emergency Services records actual vehicle fires (all vehicle types combined) that they have attended, so we can base our statistics on those.
The following table provide a limited snapshot of vehicle fire-related incidents in NSW (sourced on fire.nsw.gov.au):
| 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Vehicle Fires | 3,214 | 3,010 | 2,942 | 2,478 | 2,803 | 3,174 |
| NSW Total Fires | 22,321 | 22,013 | 17,703 | 16,248 | 18,744 | 20,727 |
| % of vehicle fires | 14.4% | 13.7% | 16.6% | 15.25% | 13.2% | 15.3% |
As you can see vehicle fires represent a large percentage (around 15%) of all fires attended by the NSW Fire Department.
Now, in 2024, the percentage of electric cars (plug-in hybrid and full battery) in Australia accounts for 3.2% of the overall market (Australian Automobile Association stats).
EV vehicles are approximatively 20 times less likely to catch fire (data from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)), if we integrate this research into our recorded vehicle fires data, we can generate some approximative figures on EV fires.
| 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of EVs (market share) | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.19% | 1.64% | 2.26% | 3.23% |
| NSW Vehicle Fires | 3,214 | 3,010 | 2,942 | 2,478 | 2,803 | 3,174 |
| NSW Estimated EV Fires | approx 1 | approx 1 | approx 1 | approx 2 | approx 3 | approx 5 |
Those are of course estimates only and not actual recorded EV fires.
EV fires statistics worldwide
EVfiresafe (a private company researching EV battery fires and emergency response with funding from the Australian Department of Defence) has compiled some interesting research on EV fires, here is a summary of their findings*:
- 511 EV fires since 2010 worldwide
- Cause: Battery cell abuse, leading to thermal runaway & ignition or explosion (Collision / debris, OEM battery fault, Submersion, Arson / malicious, External fire, Overheating repairs)
- Location: 67 Unknown, 117 Underground / enclosed spaces, 173 Outside & parked, 155 Outside & driving
*Not exhaustive. From more than one online source, interviews, first hand accounts, videos, images, academic & fire agency reports & online training
Sweden EV Fires
As Sweden has the biggest EV market share worldwide (more than 75% of their vehicles are EVs), it is a good example for us. They have created a report which provides a compilation of fires involving electric vehicles (EVs) and electric transport in Sweden from 2018 to 2023 (Data primarily comes from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's (MSB) database of incident reports from municipal rescue services.).
The report notes that while the number of EVs on the road has increased, the overall number of car fires (including those in fossil fuel vehicles) is much higher.
| 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden EV Fires (arson excluded) | 8 | 7 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 38 |
It's important to note that the data is based on incident reports and may not capture all fire incidents. The report serves as a compilation of known fires and aims to provide insight into the frequency and nature of EV and electric transport fires.
Most common causes of a EV fire in Australia?
While most electric cars or bikes are well-designed and very safe. they can still catch fire. Here are some reasons why:
- Car accidents
- Electrical System Failure
- Charging Failure
- Fuel System Leaks - only for hybrids
- Overheating Engine - only for hybrids
- Overheating Catalytic Converters - only for hybrids
Remember once an electric vehicle is ablaze, it really doesn't matter what caused it. If your EV is on fire, get out fast and get as far away from the car as possible.
What to do If a EV fire occurs?
If you’re in an Electric Car, you should immediately evacuate and never attempt to extinguish fires yourself.
if the fire is very small and you are equipped with a EV Fire Extinguisher you can try extinguishing the fire.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DISCONNECTED THE EV FROM ITS CHARGER / POWER POINT. Or cut the power to your home if you re EV is charging. F-500s are water based and can conduct electricity.
- Get everybody out of the car.
- Call the fire service on 000 and let them know it is an Electrical Vehicle.
- Do a headcount and let the fire service know if someone is missing.
- Do not go back inside.
- Remember Call triple zero (000).
What fire safety equipment should I have in my EV?
Best fire extinguishers and overall safety products for your electric vehicle are:
- 1 x F-500 Fire Extinguisher (suitable for Lithium Ion Battery Fires)
- Smoke Alarm (indoor) or Heat Alarm (outdoor) in your charging zone.
- Smart Smoke Alarm System which will shut down electricity automatically in case of a fire
- 1 x small Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher
- First Aid Kit
Where to install your Electric Car extinguisher?
EV extinguishers must be installed in easily accessible locations. If you place it in your trunk, you might not have time to get to it when needed. We recommend installing it under the front passenger seat or behind it. It is also important to securely mount the extinguisher (with short self drilling pan head screws) to prevent rolling around or sliding during an accident.
Installing the mounting bracket in an EV:
Since surface types vary, mounting screws are not included with our extinguishers and vehicle brackets. Please purchase screws or bolts specifically designed for the surface on which you will mount the fire extinguisher.
Remove mounting bracket from extinguisher by unlocking the clasp and pulling the bracket away from the extinguisher. Use strong screws to mount the bracket securely onto metal or another solid surface that can support the weight of the fire extinguisher. The mounting bracket must be secure so you can remove the extinguisher quickly in an emergency.
How to use a EV Fire Extinguisher?
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DISCONNECTED THE EV FROM ITS CHARGER / POWER POINT. Or cut the power to your home if you re EV is charging. F-500s are water based and can conduct electricity.
Knowing how to operate a EV fire extinguisher could save your life in an emergency.
The key to putting out a fire with a EV extinguisher is to use the PASS strategy: Pull the pin, Aim the hose towards the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever, and Sweep the hose.
Remember: Fires double in size every 60 seconds so use a fire extinguisher for small, contained fires only. Leave immediately if you're unable to extinguish the fire and call 000.
