EV Passenger and Micro-Mobility Fire Findings
EV passenger fires are less frequent than in vehicles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). Fires in passenger EVs are exceedingly rare. By examining data sets from both the U.S. and Sweden, EPRI found that the likelihood of a Tesla EV fire in America between 2012 and 2021 was one in 210 million miles driven. By contrast, ICE vehicles had a fire likelihood of one in 19 million miles over the same period. The difference in fire frequency in Sweden was even more stark, with ICE vehicle fires occurring at a rate of 23 to 1 compared to EVs. Nevertheless, the relative novelty of EV fires means they attract a disproportionate amount of media attention. Contributing to the elevated scrutiny is the fact that emergency response protocols for EV passenger fires are less well-established; EVs have not been on the road long enough for all first responders to be fully trained to respond to their unique electrical, chemical, fire, and explosion hazards. This is quickly changing, however, as standards organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) work collaboratively with automakers, utilities, and organizations like EPRI to develop codes, standards, and best practices for effectively responding to EV fires. This work includes research and improved understanding about the best techniques to fight fires in EVs flooded during a natural disaster.
Micro-mobility requires greater education, enforcement, and regulation. While the incidence of fires and other failure events is small in grid-scale storage and passenger EVs, more needs to be done to improve the safety of electric bikes, scooters, and hoverboards. In fact, there were over 500 battery fires in electric micro-mobility vehicles globally between January and the end of June 2023, resulting in 36 fatalities and 138 injuries, according to data from EVFireSafe.com. Multiple reasons help explain the comparative frequency of micro-mobility battery fires. While numerous safety standards exist for electric scooters, bikes, and hoverboards, not all manufacturers follow them. Fraudulent labeling misrepresenting compliance can occur, and enforcement is challenging. The widespread availability of aftermarket and third-party components—many of which don’t meet product certification standards—also increases the risk of battery fires during charging. These risks are exacerbated and increase the possibility of injury or death because micro-mobility devices are typically charged indoors. When a fire occurs in a high-density, multi-tenant residence, the risks of injury or death are particularly acute. While it’s important for micro-mobility manufacturers to adhere to safety standards, greater awareness among the public about the risks associated with using third-party components is also needed.
EV PASSENGER VEHICLES
MICRO-MOBILITY DEVICES
