Do you know facts about electric vehicle fires?
As green technologies advance, electric vehicles are likely to become more prevalent in the future. However, it's important to note that they come with a safety warning. The risk of vehicle fire is also increasing with the growing use of lithium-ion batteries in e-vehicles, e-scooters, and e-bikes. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of the risks associated with using an electric model.
1m EV’s on UK roads
It has been announced that petrol and diesel cars will no longer be manufactured after 2035 as the push towards cleaner vehicles gains momentum. The UK currently has over 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads, which are supported by an increasing number of public charging stations. Additionally, many people are opting to install private charge points. As electric vehicles are becoming more common and popular, it's important to know the chances of your lithium-ion battery catching fire and what to do.
Likelihood of battery fire
The good news is that electric vehicle fires are relatively rare, for now, but as an increasing number of people start to use EVs, more are expected as the majority of fire services don’t distinguish EV fires from other types of vehicle fires.
In 2022/23, fire services across England recorded more than 19,000 vehicle fires, of which 11,252 started accidentally. There were approximately 100 electric vehicle fires in 2022/23, as the word ‘electric’ can be found in vehicle fire records. The Home Office is supposed to be reviewing the incident reporting system and considering the collection of data on fires involving lithium-ion batteries.
What happens in an EV fire?
Dealing with an EV fire is unlike dealing with a conventionally fuelled vehicle fire. Lithium-ion batteries are often hard to reach, and EV fires are more dangerous as they can create directional jet flames and vapour cloud explosions. The fire also releases toxic chemicals in the air and water run-off, where fire crews have used hoses to fight the fire.
Compared to dealing with a petrol or diesel car fire, an EV fire takes much longer, around 4 to 5 hours or even longer where water has been used, and fire crews usually prefer to let them burn themselves out. Another problem with EV fires is that they can reignite up to 2 or 3 weeks after the initial fire, which means they must be kept away from other vehicles, even when the fire appears to have been put out.
Recovering an EV after a fire is also a challenge. Only some recovery companies will transport the damaged electric vehicles, either because they don't want to handle a burnt EV or they need the necessary recovery vehicle. EVs cannot be towed because the back wheels generate power when they turn, which means they require a specialist recovery vehicle.
Future risks of EVs
The Office for Zero Emissions has produced a white paper providing guidance on dealing with EV fires in confined spaces, such as car parks. The paper states that while fires are currently less likely to occur in electric vehicles than in hybrid, petrol, or diesel vehicles, the fire risk could increase as vehicles age and EVs gradually become affordable to a wider audience.
It is recommended to increase the spacing between EVs in public car parks to reduce the risk of EV fires spreading. However, this may cause a spacing issue in the future as ownership of EVs increases.
Terry Maher, station manager of Essex Fire and Rescue Service, which has started recording lithium-ion battery fires by type, says: “Tackling these intense fires is a complex and difficult operation for firefighters. Each of these incidents requires significant time and resources. We need research into battery storage and fires, and specialised training and equipment to tackle them. Battery manufacturing, usage and storage must be properly regulated to keep our communities and firefighters safe.”
Tips to minimise fire risk
The following tips could help to reduce the risk of fire to your EV, as far as is practicable:
- Ensure a qualified professional instals your home charger
- Never use a damaged charge cable or charge point
- Unless you need a full range, don’t charge your vehicle to 100% - charge it to 80%
- After a long journey, avoid charging your car immediately as the battery will be hot and charging will increase its temperature.
- Only use charging point that are compatible with your make of car - always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- If charging at home from a 13A mains socket, make sure an electrician has checked the wiring, as old wiring may not be able to cope with the demand of charging your vehicle overnight and risk fire at your property
- Have your car regularly serviced by an EV specialist or car manufacturer’s dealership
- Charge your car outside or in a properly ventilated area. If your garage is used for charging, ensure there is a smoke detector installed
- Check your charger manufacturer and your vehicle manufacturer for any product recalls or safety notes quarterly
- Even the smallest dent to a battery pack can cause it to catch fire – if you have an accident, even a small bump, have your EV’s battery checked out by a specialist
- If your vehicle does catch fire, get to a point of safety and dial 999.
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