What should you do if an electric vehicle catches fire?
As more people drive electric vehicles and electric scooters, reports of spontaneous fires have also become more common. Combined with the public’s limited understanding of lithium batteries, these incidents can easily create negative impressions of electric vehicles.
So why does this new transportation trend make people feel unsafe?
In this article, we will explain the common causes of electric vehicle fires, how to protect yourself in an emergency, and how an electric vehicle fire blanket can help slow the spread of fire. We also encourage you to share this safety knowledge with your family and friends.
Causes and Real Cases of Electric Vehicle and Electric Scooter Fires
A few years ago, a well-known Taiwanese celebrity was involved in a self-collision while driving an electric vehicle, and the vehicle caught fire after the accident. The incident sparked widespread public discussion.
In another case in Wareham, England, firefighters reportedly spent three hours and used 11,000 gallons of water, nearly 50,000 liters, to extinguish an electric vehicle fire.
So why do electric vehicles catch fire?
There are several possible causes. The most common include:
- Damaged internal wiring causing a short circuit
- Battery damage leading to electrolyte leakage
- Overcharging or external impact damaging the battery, causing the positive and negative electrodes to come into contact and short circuit
- Use of an incompatible charger or incorrect voltage, causing the battery to overheat and catch fire
Electric scooter fires are also becoming increasingly concerning.
In recent years, Taiwan has seen multiple cases of electric scooters catching fire in front of homes, in underground parking lots, or during charging. Some cases even occurred while the vehicle was parked, not after a collision. This shows that if the battery or charging system becomes abnormal, it can become a potential fire risk.
For enclosed spaces such as residential buildings and parking lots, this risk can be even more serious.
Why Do Electric Vehicles and Electric Scooters Catch Fire?
Common causes can generally be grouped into four major categories:
- Aging or damaged wiring inside the vehicle
- Battery damage or battery aging
- Overcharging or external impact
- Use of non-original or non-compliant charging equipment
Why Are Electric Vehicle and Electric Scooter Fires Difficult to Extinguish?
CTIF, the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services, has stated that extinguishing an electric vehicle fire may require up to 150,000 liters of water.
To understand why electric vehicle fires are so difficult to put out, we must first understand the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries. We will also explain the protective measures that electric vehicle manufacturers use to reduce battery fire risks.
What Is Thermal Runaway?
Electric vehicle batteries use highly active electrolytes to store energy. If improper charging, external impact, or other abnormal conditions occur, the battery may short circuit and begin to heat up. This can cause the electrolyte to overheat and ignite.
Once a lithium battery begins to burn, the chemical materials inside the battery continue to provide additional fuel and chemical reactions. This creates a self-heating cycle known as thermal runaway.
Because these highly reactive materials can continue burning as long as the temperature remains high, large amounts of water are often required to cool the battery until the fire is fully controlled.
Another major concern is that lithium battery fires may produce jet-like flames, which can quickly ignite surrounding objects. Places where electric vehicles are parked or stored closely together, such as ferries, parking lots, and tunnels, should therefore be considered higher-risk environments.
Safety Measures Used by Electric Vehicle Manufacturers
To reduce the risk of fire, electric vehicle manufacturers generally implement several safety measures:
- Conducting safety tests according to electric vehicle regulations, including crash tests and electrical safety tests
- Installing water-cooling systems to help dissipate battery heat
- Reinforcing the vehicle structure around the battery pack and securing the battery in the vehicle chassis with durable materials
- Designing automatic power cut-off and insulation systems to reduce the risk of disaster escalation or electric shock during an accident
- Working with fire departments to provide training on vehicle structure and emergency response procedures, helping firefighters better understand how to handle EV fires
What to Consider When Choosing an Electric Vehicle
When purchasing an electric vehicle, pay attention to the following:
- Choose brands and models with recognized safety certifications.
- Confirm that the vehicle has passed domestic and international safety standards.
- Pay attention to battery type and battery quality.
- Avoid batteries from unknown or unreliable suppliers.
- Use original charging equipment and ensure voltage compatibility.
- Avoid low-quality or unknown fast chargers.
- Avoid charging for long periods or waiting until the battery is extremely low before charging.
- Choose a brand with professional warranty and maintenance services.
Survival Guide: 4 Things to Do If an Electric Vehicle Catches Fire
According to Taiwan’s 2050 Net-Zero Emissions pathway and strategy, the government aims for electric vehicles to account for 100% of new vehicle sales by 2040.
Whether or not you currently own an electric vehicle, it is important to understand how to protect yourself if an electric vehicle catches fire.
Here are four key actions to remember:
- The driver and passengers should turn off the power quickly, move away from the vehicle, and evacuate to the upwind side to avoid inhaling toxic gases released during combustion.
- Call emergency services immediately.
- Do not touch the vehicle or attempt to extinguish the fire by yourself. Evacuate people around the burning vehicle immediately.
- If the fire is still in its early stage, an electric vehicle fire blanket may be used to slow the spread of flames and help contain harmful smoke.
Important: Electric vehicle fires are difficult to extinguish. Do not approach the burning vehicle if the fire has grown large.
Reminder: The core temperature of an electric vehicle fire can reach nearly 1,200°C, while the vehicle surface temperature may reach around 1,000°C. The fire may continue burning for a long period of time. In the early stage of a fire, it is recommended to cover the vehicle with an electric vehicle fire blanket that can withstand temperatures above 1,000°C for an extended period. This can help reduce fire spread and limit the release of toxic smoke.
How Do You Extinguish an Electric Vehicle Fire?
The key issue is not simply the type of fire extinguisher or extinguishing agent.
The real question is: Can the extinguishing agent reach the fire source, and how long can it continue to work?
No standard fire extinguisher can discharge long enough to control an electric vehicle lithium battery fire for the entire duration of thermal runaway.
An electric vehicle lithium battery fire is a severe thermal runaway reaction. The flames are intense, the temperature can exceed 1,000°C, and large amounts of toxic smoke may be released.
In the early stage, the recommended response is to cover the vehicle with an electric vehicle fire blanket to help isolate the flames and smoke. This should be combined with large amounts of water for cooling until the reaction ends, which can take a long time.
It is recommended to choose an electric vehicle fire blanket with international high-temperature certification, capable of withstanding temperatures above 1,000°C and resisting burn-through for up to two hours. This helps ensure that the blanket can contain and suppress the fire effectively and continuously until the situation stabilizes.
For other common lithium battery fire scenarios, such as electronic device batteries, electric scooter batteries, or e-bike batteries, it is important to determine whether the battery is a non-rechargeable lithium cell or a rechargeable lithium-ion cell, and then select the appropriate type of fire extinguisher accordingly.
Essential EV Fire Control Equipment: How to Use an Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket
In Belgium, electric vehicle fires have sometimes been handled by submerging the vehicle in a large water tank after the fire was brought under control. This method can help reduce the vehicle temperature significantly.
However, for general emergency preparedness, a more practical solution is to keep an electric vehicle fire blanket available.
Using the Nordic electric vehicle fire blanket exclusively distributed by Cheng Deh Fire Protection in Taiwan as an example, the following section explains how to use an EV fire blanket during an emergency to help reduce fire damage.
Daily Electric Vehicle Maintenance to Help Prevent Fires
Battery Maintenance and Use
It is recommended to keep the battery level between 20% and 80%. Avoid keeping the battery fully charged for long periods, and avoid letting the battery drop below 10%.
Avoid using unknown, low-quality chargers or adapters to reduce the risk of short circuits and overheating.
Safe Charging Habits
Do not leave the vehicle plugged in for an excessively long time. Long charging periods may affect both battery life and safety. Keep the vehicle away from flammable materials while charging.
Regular Inspection and Maintenance
Return to the original manufacturer or authorized service center regularly for battery inspection and maintenance. Check whether any abnormal warning lights have appeared.
Report Abnormal Conditions Immediately
If the battery temperature becomes unusually high, pull over safely, turn off the power, and leave the vehicle immediately. Call 119 right away and do not attempt to extinguish the fire yourself.
How to Use the PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket
This product is only suitable for early-stage fires. If the fire grows larger, evacuate immediately and leave the scene to professional firefighters.
This product must be operated by two people at the same time. During operation, keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters from the burning vehicle.
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Step 1: Open the Blanket Together
Two people should work together to unfold the fire blanket.
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Step 2: Hold the Handles and Cover the Vehicle Completely
Hold the handles of the fire blanket and pull it over the vehicle until the entire vehicle body is covered.
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Step 3: Make Sure the Blanket Reaches the Ground
Ensure that the fire blanket fully covers the vehicle and lies flat against the ground on all sides.
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Step 4: Keep a Safe Distance and Wait
After confirming that the vehicle is fully covered, keep a safe distance from the burning vehicle and wait.
After waiting for 2 to 3 minutes, if you hear strong popping sounds every 3 to 15 seconds, this may indicate thermal runaway. Keep the fire blanket covering the vehicle until the popping sounds stop.
Covering the vehicle with a fire blanket can help prevent the fire from spreading, reduce smoke release, and minimize property damage.
Features of the PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket
Fire blankets are currently one of the main emergency response tools for electric vehicle fires. To help prepare for such risks, Cheng Deh Fire Protection offers vehicle fire blankets in multiple sizes.
Many fire blankets on the market are tested only with sample fabric in high-temperature ovens without direct flame exposure. This makes it difficult to confirm their actual heat resistance in real fire conditions or determine how long they can withstand flames.
The PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket has been certified by KIWA, a leading European authority for high-temperature testing. It has also passed EN 13501-1 certification and Taiwan’s CNS 10285 A4 flame resistance test, achieving Class 1 flame resistance.
It provides excellent fire resistance, smoke control, and non-combustible performance. In vehicle battery fire testing, it was able to cover a fire exceeding 1,000°C for more than two hours without burn-through.
Note: In actual vehicle battery fire testing, the blanket covered the vehicle for two hours without damage. After the vehicle temperature reached 1,300°C, the temperature dropped rapidly until the environment fell below 120°C, the critical temperature for lithium battery thermal development, helping to smother the fire. The blanket is designed for long-term resistance to temperatures above 1,000°C. Test videos are also available for reference.
PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket
The Nordic-made PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket offers high-level fire protection for lithium battery fires and provides strong high-temperature resistance for demanding emergency scenarios.
Key certifications and features include:
- DIN SPEC 91489, the only international specification for electric vehicle fire blankets
- KIWA high-temperature certification: tested on vehicle battery fire coverage for two hours without damage, with long-term temperature resistance above 1,000°C
- Passed two-hour open-flame testing at 1,200°C without burn-through
- EU fire classification EN 13501-1: A2-s1,d0, offering effective fire resistance, excellent smoke control, and non-combustible performance
- Taiwan CNS 10285 Class 1 flame resistance
- U.S. UL94 V-0 flame retardancy rating
- U.S. ASTM D2863 oxygen index test result of 65.1%, indicating very high flame resistance
- Taiwan CNS 12915 tensile strength test, with tensile strength above 4,300 N
With advanced high-temperature fire resistance, strict testing standards, and high-level protection, the PADTEX Electric Vehicle Fire Blanket is suitable for residential communities, repair shops, companies, electric vehicle charging stations, and other locations.
It can help quickly and effectively control fires caused by electric vehicles and reduce the spread of toxic gases.
The blanket is made with high-density fiberglass and a high-temperature coating. It has a 10-year service life and a 3-year warranty.
Cheng Deh Fire Protection also provides after-sales training to help users understand how to use the fire blanket properly during an electric vehicle fire, offering stronger protection for your safety.
With comprehensive expertise across the fire safety industry, Cheng Deh Fire Protection continues to lead the way in creating safer living environments. To learn more about disaster prevention knowledge and fire safety products, visit Bear Safety Life for more information.