The Hidden Dangers of Electric Cars: Understanding the Risks of Fires and Battery Failures

Question

I have never been a fan of electric cars for many reasons, including electrical fires. Still, after reading this article it seems that electric vehicles are indeed associated with fire risks, particularly related to their lithium-ion batteries, and there is not a lot people can do about it. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electric vehicle fires occur at a rate of about 1 in 1,000, which is comparable to gasoline vehicles. However, they can not be put out with just water as well as they may burn hotter due to the chemical composition of lithium-ion batteries (NFPA, 2024). The article highlights incidents where EV batteries have caught fire, especially after severe accidents. However, it lacks context about how often these fires occur relative to the total number of EVs on the road and does not discuss advancements in battery technology aimed at improving safety. I've seen videos of electric cars charging in a garage and all of a sudden the car is in flames. So is having an electric car worth the risk of an electrical fire in case of an accident or even just out of nowhere? Is it worth it to let your whole car burn in the fire instead of being able to put it out with an extinguisher? 

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). (2024). Electric Vehicle Fire Statistics. 

  • https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/vehicle-fires 

  • https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/electrical/electric-vehicles

• Battery Technology News. (2024). Advancements in Battery Safety: The Future of Electric Vehicle Technology. 

  • https://www.motortrend.com/news/ev-battery-technology-future-emerging/

  • https://eit.europa.eu/news-events/events/electrifying-future-whats-next-advanced-battery-technology

Answer 1

I agree with your statements. I believe this is true. You brought up a good point that the occurrence of the fires is one thing, but electric car fires can not be put out as easily which can make them even more harmful. I had never thought about this before. I am curious if the benefits that electric cars bring to the environment and safety features outway the harm of the fires?

Answer 2

I strongly agree with this claim as I am a supporter of the usage of electric vehicles with the effects of climate change, I have always been skeptical of it usage and its own environmental impact like you have stated. When it comes to fires caused by electric cars  I had no idea it was so frequent and dangerous, but I find it incredibly interesting that this is only being addressed now. Another point I would like to add onto is the effects of the lithium batteries and other raw earth resources used and depleted for the use of "environmentally safe transportation". According to the NY Times lithium batteries and the mining to retrieve them can be extremely damaging to the environment and harmful to the workers tirelessly digging, just for us to have a more "safe" form of transportation is irony at it's best in my opinion.  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/electric-vehicles-environment.html