Do Electric Cars Really Catch Fire Easily? Fire Myths and Data

Schematic view of the battery cells of an electric vehicle parked in a secure enclosed parking lot

Every video of an electric vehicle catching fire receives thousands of shares on social media within minutes. Yet the same attention is rarely given to gasoline vehicle fires. So what do the data say? Based on a review of 26 scientific studies, we examine the widespread myths about electric vehicle fires one by one.

Myth: Electric vehicles catch fire far more often than gasoline ones

This is the most common belief on the subject and also the easiest to test with data. Swinburne University's September 2023 fire frequency analysis in Australia uses a clear statement in its title: electric vehicle fires are very rare, and the risk for gasoline or diesel vehicles is at least 20 times higher. A similar picture holds in Europe. A 2025 Poland-Norway analysis concludes that internal combustion vehicles catch fire six times more often.

These findings do not stand alone. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's (MSB) 2018-2024 electric vehicle fire data, Norway's DSB fire statistics, the US USFA/FEMA highway fire data, and the ICCT's October 2024 "Clearing the Air" report all point in the same direction: ICCT even suggests that electric vehicles may reduce the overall fire risk.

So why are electric vehicle fires talked about so much? The Science Art Way review, drawing on the Luton and Stavanger airport fire examples, points to the debate over media perception management: rare events are enough to create a lasting perception.

What is thermal runaway, and does it really start "suddenly"?

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The mechanism at the heart of electric vehicle fires is thermal runaway: an uncontrolled heating process that begins when battery cells are impacted or malfunction. This process leads to the release of toxic gases; when the gases come into contact with oxygen, they intensify the fire and make it harder to extinguish. The risk of hydrogen fluoride gas in lithium-ion battery fires is also noted.

However, the "suddenly bursts into flames" myth collapses here. Thermal runaway is a gradual chemical process spreading from cell to cell, and the reaction can continue even without oxygen. In real incidents, the speed of the fire varies depending on external factors such as a crash, environmental conditions, or combustible cargo. In other words, in most cases the process is a chain of events that reveals itself in advance; not a surprise unfolding within seconds.

Why can't combustion mechanisms be compared?

Directly comparing the fire risk of gasoline vehicles and electric vehicles can be misleading, because the nature of the risks is different. Internal combustion engines carry the risk of a "pool fire" caused by 2000 bar pressure and fuel mist. In electric vehicles, a jet flame can emerge from a battery cell. Hybrid vehicles, being a combination of two worlds, have a separate, complex risk profile.

What causes the fire also matters: the main real causes of battery fires are impact-related cell damage, thermal runaway due to malfunction, and charging infrastructure problems. RISE Fire Research's report on charging electric vehicles in enclosed parking garages shows that charging safety should be addressed as a separate area of examination.

The fire department perspective: Not extinguishing, but preventing

Thermal runaway is seen as one of the biggest challenges fire brigades face in electric vehicle fires. CTIF's operational guide dated February 2026 defines specialized extinguishing techniques based on lithium-ion cell behavior. The NTSB safety report and the USFA/FEMA EV response guide also document institutional preparedness in this area.

The experts' common emphasis is this: the real issue is not extinguishing the fire, but correctly reading the risks before it occurs. Solid-state batteries are expected to be a significant step forward in terms of safety in the future.

What to do and what not to do in the event of a possible battery fire

Although research presents clear risk figures, there are things drivers can do on their own part:

  • Consult an authorized service: For charging installations and post-accident checks, always follow authorized or expert service providers and manufacturer recommendations.
  • Monitor the battery after floods and accidents: The 2026 safety guides highlight battery safety after floods and accidents as a critical topic.
  • Adopt proper charging habits: Charging infrastructure problems are one of the known causes of battery incidents; leave the installation to professionals.
  • What not to do: Attempting to intervene in a vehicle with a damaged or suspect battery and approaching the vehicle before the fire brigade arrives are dangerous due to the risk of toxic gases.

What to pay attention to when reading the data?

Different countries, years, and data collection methods can change comparative results. The content on this page should not be interpreted as a definitive risk estimate or a safety guarantee; its purpose is to offer the opportunity to compare media perception with institutional data.

Conclusion

The data do not support the myth that electric vehicles catch fire more frequently than gasoline and diesel vehicles; current analyses show the opposite. Thermal runaway is a real and serious engineering problem, but it is not "suddenly bursting into flames" — it is a process that progresses with precursors. Proper charging habits, checks after accidents and floods, and following manufacturer recommendations are the most powerful measures in a driver's hands.

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