Electric automobiles are making steady headway around the globe and are increasingly being recognized as an essential component of the transition to a sustainable society. Concerning spontaneous fires are facts on fires, probable causes of flames, and possible remedies to fires.
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| [An electric car on fire] |
Many industry experts believe that the electric automobile will play a function that is of critical significance in the ecological transition process that is now being done by industries all over the globe.
The widespread adoption of electric vehicles ought, in point of fact, to make a contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and to the gradual lessening of dependence on fossil fuels; these are two essential actions that must be taken in order to move toward the objective of decarbonization. The European Union places a high level of importance on electric cars (EVs), so much so that it has mandated that automakers cease manufacturing of new gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles by the year 2035, shifting their attention solely to EVs.
However, with the move to electric mobility comes new issues for manufacturers: electric cars with lithium-ion batteries, in fact, may be extremely deadly when they catch fire, although luckily, this is not a situation that is then so likely to occur. However, it is important to keep in mind that the statistics on electric vehicle fires are related to sales, which are even smaller than those of thermal engine cars and thus apply to the existing fleet. Although the number of incidents now seems to be very restricted, this may not always be the case. When there are more electric vehicles on the road, even ones that are inexpensive, there is a larger risk that some of them may catch fire.
Number of electric car fires
In spite of this, there is sufficient evidence from preliminary research to suggest that fires of this type are uncommon, which is consistent with the findings of a specific study that was carried out by industry experts such as the Australians of EV Fire Safe. This study points out that researchers need much more data than what they currently have in order to determine with what media electric cars catch fire.
An investigation that was carried out by AutoinsuranceEZ discovered that only 0.3% of battery electric vehicles are susceptible to catching fire. This is an extremely low percentage, particularly when compared to those of vehicles with combustion engines (1.5%), and above all hybrid vehicles that combine a thermal engine with an electric engine (3.4%).
China has very different numbers, as the country is home to a much larger number of electric vehicles than the rest of the world combined (six million, according to data provided by the International Energy Agency, which accounts for one third of the world's electric car fleet, which is equal to 36%). Here, where electric vehicles in addition to those of premium brands are primarily low-cost models, the number of fires is higher: according to data released by the Chinese Fire Department and by the rescue of the Ministry of Emergency Management, on average seven electric cars catch fire every single day in China. For the first three months of 2022, there were 640 electric vehicle fires reported; this number represents a significant increase when compared to the 86 incidents that were reported during the period of 2020-2022.
Why electric cars catch fire
The other data that was given by the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) is helpful in recreating the reasons and circumstances under which electric vehicles might catch fire. According to these figures, the months of May through September were the most dangerous for fires, accounting for 66% of the total. The 86 electric car fires that were reported in the media started when the battery was being charged (27.5%), while the vehicle was parked (38.5%), while the vehicle was being driven, after an accident, and in 7 instances for reasons that have not been determined. According to the researchers at BIT, the risk of a fire is increased when there is a difficulty in preheating the battery in the winter; in this scenario, the vehicle may overheat while it is being charged. On the other hand, overheating in the summer is caused by the outdoor temperatures, which are much greater than average during this time of year.
Because it has a lithium-ion battery, an electric vehicle, in the event that it catches fire, burns far more intensely and much more quickly than a conventional automobile with a heat engine. This is a rare occurrence, but it is a fact that these fires do occur. In 2021, the fire of a Tesla Model S in Pennsylvania was so violent that it melted the asphalt. In addition, there is the risk that the batteries could reignite even hours or days after the fire goes out, putting places such as junkyards or repair shops at risk. Taming such a fire requires much more effort (the fire of a Tesla Model S in Pennsylvania in 2021 was so violent that it melted the asphalt). Another real possibility is that the vehicle will catch fire while it is being charged, which is a problem that becomes even more significant when one considers those individuals who charge their vehicle in the garage of their home, where any potential fire could quickly spread to the rest of the house.
According to Eric Wachsman, director of Maryland's Energy Institute and another industry expert, the qualities that allow a lithium-ion battery to be powerful enough to power a passenger vehicle can also make it vulnerable to fires, particularly if the internal battery cells are damaged or defective. This is especially the case if the battery has been overcharged. In point of fact, lithium-ion batteries are made up of electrodes that are placed at a close proximity to one another, which increases the likelihood of a short. Furthermore, these batteries contain a highly combustible electrolyte liquid that is capable of starting a fire if it is subjected to sudden changes in temperature.
Electric vehicles are equipped with battery management systems that assist to keep the internal batteries at the appropriate temperature. Additionally, these management systems govern the rate at which the batteries charge and discharge. Improvements in this area, and more notably in the field of battery cells, will contribute to the gradual increase in the security of electric vehicles. In addition, Tesla just recently made an announcement that it will be switching from using batteries that contain lithium-ion cells to using batteries that contain lithium-iron phosphate cells, which are regarded as being less hazardous. In the meantime, other manufacturers, such as Ford and Volkswagen, are using alternative elements, such as nickel or cobalt compositions, to build some of their electric vehicles.