Do Electric Cars Catch Fire More Often Than Gas Cars?

The following is a paraphrased and translated summary of an article from Gazeta.pl debunking myths regarding the fire safety of electric vehicles.

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Poland, with around 115,000 electric vehicles on the roads by the end of May 2024. This includes approximately 60,000 fully electric cars and 55,000 plug-in hybrids. Despite their growing popularity, concerns about their safety persist, particularly regarding fire related incidents.

Fire Incidence and Comparisons

Data from the State Fire Service (PSP) reveals that in 2023, there were 21 reported fires involving electric vehicles in Poland, compared to nearly 7,200 fires involving combustion engine vehicles. Although the number of electric vehicle fires is significantly lower, it’s important to consider the proportion of electric vehicles on the road.

A report by WysokieNapiecie.pl indicates that, on average, 20 out of every 100,000 electric cars and 30 out of every 100,000 combustion engine cars catch fire. Additionally, about 25% of electric vehicle fires are due to arson. These statistics suggest that electric vehicles are actually less prone to fires than traditional gas vehicles when adjusted for the number of vehicles on the road.

Challenges in Extinguishing Fires

One of the main challenges with electric vehicle fires is the difficulty in extinguishing them. Electric vehicle fires require a substantial amount of water to cool and extinguish burning batteries. According to the PSP, small electric vehicle fires can be managed with powder or foam extinguishers. The average time to extinguish an electric vehicle fire is around 1.5 hours, but some incidents, such as a fire in Tuchom, Poland in March 2023, required a total intervention time of 21 hours.

But this is not the whole story. The actual extinguishing lasted 18 minutes, followed by a 2.5-hour wait for a fire extinguishing container. The car then remained in the container for 15.5 hours, with an additional two hours dedicated to monitoring.

While electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Poland and are not inherently more prone to fires than combustion engine vehicles, they present unique challenges in fire management. Improved understanding and preparedness are crucial as the number of electric vehicles continues to grow.

For a more detailed and untranslated version of this article, you can view the original piece on Gazeta.pl.