The Severe Risk of Battery Fires from Electric Vehicles

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Add battery-related fires to the list of challenges for widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

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EVs are less likely to catch fire than gas-powered vehicles, but when they do, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery gets hotter, and the fire takes longer to put out.

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When first responders in Franklin, Tennessee, faced their first EV fire from a Nissan Leaf in September 2023, it required 45,000 gallons of water compared to the 500-1,000 gallons typically needed to put out the fire of a gas-powered vehicle.

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When asked what they might do in a similar situation next time, they responded, “Let it burn.”

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But letting the car burn isn’t always an option.

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Lawmakers in Seoul, which has a higher population density than New York or Tokyo, are considering specialized fire extinguishers and moving EV charging stations out of underground parking lots.