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Summary
EV fires, often sensationalized in the media, are actually quite rare compared to traditional gasoline vehicle fires. A significant study shows that EVs have a lower fire risk, with only 0.004% of electric vehicles (EVs) catching fire in 2022, compared to 0.08% for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Though EV fires can be intense due to thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, advancements in battery technology and firefighting techniques are making them safer.
Highlights -🔥
- EV Fire Perception: Media coverage creates a fear of EV fires. 📺
- Fire Risk Statistics: EVs have a significantly lower fire risk than ICE vehicles. 📊
- Causes of Fires: Thermal runaway in batteries leads to fires. 🔋
- Saltwater Risks: Saltwater exposure can damage batteries, leading to fires. 🌊
- Firefighting Innovations: New techniques are being developed for extinguishing EV fires. 🚒
- Reassurance for Owners: EV fires are rare, making them safe for garage parking. 🏡
- Public Education: Ongoing initiatives aim to educate about EV safety. 📚
Chances are, by now, you’ve seen footage of an EV on fire. It’s a pretty scary sight. Evil, black smoke rolling out from under the car, possibly lit up by shooting sparks and ceaseless flames that seemingly no amount of water can extinguish. These fires are so often highlighted on the news and social media that it’s easy to think they’re happening all the time.
A high-profile Chevy Bolt recall related to possible fire risk certainly hasn’t helped that public perception, providing ever more ammunition to anti-EV pundits who’d have you believe that parking an electric car in your garage is as good as playing with matches in a wood shed.
But if that were the truth, wouldn’t we be seeing a heck of a lot more fires? Americans bought more than a half-million EVs in the first half of this year alone. What’s the real truth about the fire risk of EVs? That’s what we’re here to find out in our latest installment of EV Myths, Discharged.
What causes EV fires?
Everyone knows what it takes to set gasoline on fire: A tiny little spark will do. Gasoline’s combustible nature makes it ideally suited for internal combustion, but it’s very happy for some external combustion, given half a chance.
Read the full post at Inside EVs.
