PASSENGER EV LIB FIRE INCIDENTS

Global, as of 31st DECEMBER 2022

evfiresafe.com

EVs are less likely to catch fire than internal combustion vehicles...here's are the ones we've been able to track & verify

Why EV FireSafe? How many EV battery fires? When did they occur?
Transport emissions By year & EV global market share:
Since 2010, the EV FireSafe research team found:
account for:

25%
of global greenhouse gas 337 48 34 2010 / 0%

2011 / 0.1%
emissions, which has led to the
verified* EV traction unverified - from a investigating - online
rapid electrification of vehicles battery fires globally reliable source, rumour, tip off, 2012 / 0.2%
waiting on further info clickbait
2013 / 0.3%

EV battery fire incidents have led

2014 / 0.4%
to concerns about emergency
responder safety when attending
2015 / 0.7%

EV lithium ion 2016 / 0.9%

battery fires
2017 / 1.4%

2018 / 2.3%

To enhance emergency 2019 / 2.5%

responder safety, we
researched plug-in (BEV & PHEV) 2020 / 4.3%
passenger electric vehicle "...the total number of electric cars on the world’s roads
battery fires from to about 16.5 million (in 2021)...Global sales of electric 2021 / 9%
cars have kept rising strongly in 2022, with 2 million sold
2010 - 2022 in the first quarter, up 75% from the same period in 2021. 2022 / 10%

breaking down our findings here International Energy Agency, January 2023
0 25 50 75 100 125
& at evfiresafe.com
*Not exhaustive. From more than one online source, interviews, first hand accounts, videos, images, academic & fire agency reports & online training
Enhancing emergency responder safety at electric vehicle traction battery fires

EV battery fires are very rare, but present new risks & challenges for emergency responders.
From these verified incidents, we found:

Cause Location* Ignition vs explosion

Battery cell abuse, leading to thermal *17% unknown
runaway & ignition or explosion, caused by:
95%
23%
Ignition
Underground / Jet like, directional
Unknown enclosed spaces
flames

31%
Collision / debris Outside & parked
Workshop / repair 5%
Arson / malicious OEM battery fault
External fire Submersion
28% Vapour cloud
explosion
Overheating Outside & driving
Violent deflagration

Vapour cloud explosion Charging Electrocution

Of total vapour cloud explosion incidents: Of total EV battery fire incidents: We found NO reports or evidence of electrocution
or near miss of emergency responders from:

16%
70% EV connected
Underground / Direct stream of Submersion
to energised water on HV
enclosed space charging

30% 1% Extrication of Stranded

Open air EV disconnected occupants energy
from energised
charging within
10 minutes of But electrocution is still a risk!
incident
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