Sales of EVs are booming in Europe but are we equipped to tackle blazes caused by batteries?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising solution to replace traditional fossil fuel-powered cars.

Yet, amid this transition, one question remains largely unanswered: are we prepared to tackle the fire risks of battery vehicles?

London Fire Brigade this summer named e-bikes as the city’s fastest-growing fire trend with 123 fires associated with e-bikes and e-scooters, a record-high number.

A coroner has urged the UK Office for Product Standards and Safety (OPSS) to introduce further safety standards following the death of a man in an e-bike fire in March, according to the fire and rescue service. 

Unlike traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, EVs and hybrid cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries which, according to experts, pose different challenges and risks.

One of the known hazards in these kinds of batteries is "thermal runaway," a rapid increase in temperature that leads to fires that are hard to extinguish.

Fire in EVs can start a while after a crash, for example, and can spontaneously re-ignite.

They also produce a toxic gas called hydrogen fluoride when burning. Exposure to hydrogen fluoride can be an additional risk even with protective clothing, experts say.

Snuffing out fires caused by lithium batteries can take thousands of gallons of water, much more than the volume required to stop a gasoline car fire.

According to the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services, extinguishing a burning tesla can take as much as 40,000 gallons of water.

Mitigating such accidents requires a combination of preventive measures and improved emergency response strategies.

In 2011, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) established a team dedicated to publishing reports and guidelines on EV fires.

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