Electric vehicles

Despite the undoubtable benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of renewable energy efforts to combat climate change, EVs present unique fire risks that require extra safety precautions to be taken.

As well as the increase in EVs on our roads, there is also a huge rise in the popularity of e-scooters and e-bikes which are a really useful way of travelling for many people, but like all electrical items, they come with risks.

The main fire risk is the lithium-ion battery used to charge these appliances. Lithium is a highly flammable and particularly dangerous because of the high energy density.

Causes of an electric vehicle fire

Electric vehicles are most commonly powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The first lithium-ion battery was invented in the 1990s and it was used to power a car in the early 2000s. In comparison, petrol and diesel vehicles have been around for well over 100 years, so comparatively we are yet to obtain the same data and understanding when it comes to product safety.

Fundamentally, electric vehicles are extremely safe, but the main danger occurs when the lithium-ion battery is damaged, which might happen if it is exposed to extreme heat or something penetrates the battery cell wall.

How often do they occur?

Thankfully fires involving electric vehicles in Essex are still very rare. In fact, during the past five years Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were only called to two fires involving electric vehicles.

Although these fires remain rare, when they do occur, they can be extremely dangerous. And with more electric vehicles being sold everyday, and also entering the second-hand market, it is expected that more incidents will occur.

During an electric vehicle fire, over 100 organic chemicals are generated, including some incredibly toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide – both of which are fatal to humans.

Safety advice

Don’t charge your vehicle to 100% unless you absolutely need its full range, for example, a road trip. Day to day use, the vehicle should be charged up to 80%
Don’t charge your car immediately after a journey, particularly long journey’s. The battery will be hot and charging will further increase the battery temperature.
Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging your vehicle, and never use a charging point that isn’t compatible with the make of your car.
If you are charging from a 13A mains socket in your home, ensure the wiring in your property has been checked prior to doing so. Old wiring may not be able to cope with the demand from charging your vehicle overnight and risk a fire in your property.
Have your car regularly inspected/serviced at an EV specialist or car manufacturers dealership.
Where possible, charge your car on your drive rather than in a garage. Fit a smoke detector in your garage if this is your primary charging location.
Have your home charge point installed by a qualified and competent person. Any signs of damage or wear and tear should also be examined by a competent person.
Check your charge point manufacturer for any product recalls or safety notes quarterly.
Check your car manufacturer for any product recalls or safety notes quarterly, including charge cables.
Do not use a damaged charge cable or charge point. If these are public points, report them to the provider.
If you have any accidents, even small bumps that only appear to cause cosmetic damage, have the vehicle battery inspected by an EV specialist or car dealership. Even the smallest dent to a battery pack can cause it to catch fire.
If your vehicle does unfortunately catch fire, get to a point of safety and call 999. Do not attempt to try and extinguish the fire yourself as this is unlikely to be effective.