Wirtz Law Blog

Several recent news stories have highlighted a potential risk of driving an electric vehicle: battery fires. Some news reports focus on battery fires resulting from a vehicle crash. Others focus on battery fires caused by defects in the batteries themselves – vehicles that catch fire while simply sitting in a driveway or garage.

EV battery fires certainly occur, and they can pose serious risks when they do. Research indicates that while EVs have a lower fire risk overall, the risks of serious injury or death when a fire does happen are higher.

EVs Pose Lower Overall Risk of Catching Fire

A comparison of car fire data collected by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) revealed that EVs were involved in just 25 vehicle fires per 100,000 vehicles sold in 2020. 

Both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and hybrid vehicles had higher fire rates. For conventional ICE vehicles, the rate of vehicle fires was about 1,530 per 100,000 vehicles sold.

Hybrid vehicles appear to pose the highest risk of a vehicle fire. NTSB and BTS data revealed that hybrid cars suffered 3,475 fires for every 100,000 vehicles sold – a rate more than twice as high as that of ICE vehicles and significantly higher than the rate for electric vehicles. 

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on vehicle recalls showed that ICE were also more likely than EVs to be recalled for fire risks. Hybrid vehicles had the fewest fire-related recalls in 2020, while ICE vehicles had the most recalls. These numbers, however, do not include recent large recalls for EV battery fires, such as recalls for the Chevy Bolt and the Hyundai Kona. 

When EVs Do Catch Fire, Injury Risks May Be Higher

EV battery fires may be less common in crashes than ICE or hybrid fires. When an EV battery fire does occur, however, the risks can be far higher than those posed by a gasoline-fueled fire.

EVs are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries. When these batteries catch fire, they burn at extremely high temperatures. An EV battery fire can reach temperatures of 4900 degrees Fahrenheit (2700 degrees Celsius). By contrast, a gasoline-fueled fire reaches lower temperatures – typically no more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius).  

A hotter fire can do more damage in less time. Battery fires can also be more challenging for firefighting teams to extinguish. Specialized firefighting chemicals may be required, or firefighting teams may need access to much larger quantities of water than they might need to put out a gasoline fire. 

Finally, some evidence indicates that it is difficult to know exactly when a battery fire has been completely extinguished. In at least one instance, an EV whose battery caught fire was suppressed and towed to a junkyard – only to have the battery reignite hours later, long after firefighters had believed the fire was extinguished. 

How to Protect Yourself and Others from EV Fire Risks

EV fires in vehicle crashes may be rare, but EV fires associated with defective batteries or battery recalls have occurred in several vehicle makes, models, and years. To address these risks: 

• Stay on top of recall information for your vehicle. NHTSA’s recall website, Recalls.gov, tracks information on vehicle recalls. Sign up for alerts or check the website regularly. 
• If your vehicle is under a recall, get it fixed promptly. Addressing a recall issue quickly is the best way to reduce your risk of injury related to the defect. Take the vehicle to a dealership for a repair. 
• Follow any advice or instructions related to battery fire risks. For instance, the recent Hyundai Kona recall advised owners to park vehicles well away from structures and trees. Following this type of advice or instruction can help limit the damage or injuries an EV fire may cause. 

If you are involved in an EV fire:

• Get yourself and others to safety as quickly as possible. Do what you can to ensure everyone stays well away from the vehicle fire.
• Call 911 for emergency services. Specify that an electric vehicle fire is occurring so that firefighters can arrive prepared. Also, report any suspected injuries to the 911 dispatcher. 
• Get medical attention ASAP. Even if you don’t immediately suspect injury, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. Exposure to chemicals or fumes from a battery fire may have unexpected health effects. 
• Talk to an experienced attorney. A lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and take steps to protect you and your interests. 

If you suspect your battery fire is due to a defect, speak to an experienced team of California lemon law attorneys like those at Wirtz Law APC to learn more about your legal rights.