Overview
- A TÜV fire-safety expert and German insurer data reiterate that electric cars are not more fire-prone than combustion vehicles.
- A U.S. insurer comparison cited this week shows 1,529 fires per 100,000 conventional cars versus 25 for EVs, indicating roughly 61 times more fires in gas cars.
- Broader studies report EV fire incidence about 5 to 50 times lower than for petrol or diesel models, with a Swedish analysis finding about a 20-fold gap.
- Fire chiefs in Germany advise conventional cooling tactics for EV incidents—ideally from below and keeping the battery under roughly 80°C—while discouraging costly containers, lances and blankets.
- Researchers note that when battery cells enter thermal runaway, suppression can demand far more water—potentially up to about 10,000 liters—and prolonged monitoring to prevent re-ignition.