EVs Are Far Less Likely to Catch Fire Than Gas-Powered Cars

Few topics spark more heated and explosive debate (pun intended) in the EV world than battery fires. Stories about electric vehicles catching fire spread quickly online, feeding the idea that EVs are prone to bursting into flames. But this perception is one of the most persistent and misleading myths in modern transportation. The reality is simple: EV battery fires are far less common than fires in gas-powered vehicles.

Data from fire agencies, insurance companies, and safety regulators consistently shows that internal combustion engine vehicles experience far more fires per mile, per vehicle, and per incident than EVs. Gasoline is an extremely flammable liquid, and the combination of hot engines, exhaust systems, and thousands of moving parts creates far more fire risk than a sealed battery pack. EVs, by contrast, have fewer ignition points and are built with multiple layers of thermal protection and fail-safes.

When an EV fire does occur, it makes headlines because it is still relatively new and unfamiliar to the public. Media coverage often focuses on dramatic images of damaged vehicles, creating a false sense of frequency. Gas vehicle fires happen every day across the country, but because they are so common, they rarely get the same attention. This uneven visibility fuels the myth that EVs are uniquely hazardous, even though the data shows the opposite.

Modern EVs go through rigorous testing, including thermal runaway simulations, crash testing, puncture testing, and extreme temperature evaluations. Automakers and battery manufacturers design packs with advanced cooling systems, fire-resistant materials, and automatic shutdown mechanisms. The industry has also learned from early incidents and continually improves chemistry, cell design, and battery management software.

None of this means EV fires never happen. No vehicle technology is completely risk-free. But the narrative that EVs are more likely to catch fire simply does not hold up to scrutiny. Electric vehicles are among the safest cars ever built, and as battery technology continues to advance, they will become even safer.

KBB Report: EVs Less Likely to Catch Fire Than Gas-Powered Cars

In 2023, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reported that EVs catch fire far less often than gas-powered cars.

KBB cited a 2023 report from the UK’s Guardian newspaper that illustrates this perfectly. Using data from several countries, the report shows that electric vehicles are actually far less likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered cars.

The analysis draws from four key data sources: Tesla’s global fleet, Australia, Sweden, and Norway. Norway has the highest concentration of electric cars in the world. Across these sources, the Guardian found that the probability of an EV fire is much lower than the probability of a fire in a gasoline or diesel car. The Guardian says millions of electric cars are already on the road, and enough data exists to reveal clear trends.

Tesla reports that from 2012 to 2021, its cars experienced fires at a rate 11 times lower per mile than the average for all cars in the U.S. Tesla understandably has a financial stake in looking good, so skepticism is healthy. But other independent sources back up the same finding.

In Norway, researchers found four to five times more fires in gasoline and diesel vehicles compared with EVs, according to the Directorate for Social Security and Emergency Preparedness. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency found 68 fires per 100,000 cars of all types, but just 3.8 fires per 100,000 EVs and hybrids. Australia’s Department of Defense discovered that the chance of an EV battery catching fire was 0.0012 percent compared with 0.1 percent for internal combustion engine vehicles.

Another source supports the conclusion as well: common sense. Gas-powered cars rely on constant combustion. They operate with millions of tiny fires inside the engine. For a gas car to catch fire, the fire only needs to escape its containment. For an electric car to catch fire, a fire must first begin.

Electric bikes and scooters also contribute to the perception problem because they often use cheap, poorly regulated batteries that do not reflect the standards of major automakers. The US is creating standards for e-bike batteries through proposed legislation, with a specific bill requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a federal safety rule for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices. The proposed legislation aims to make safety standards, such as those from UL, mandatory for e-bikes and batteries sold in the US to reduce fire risks.

The one major EV battery defect that led to repeated fires, involving LG and General Motors, cost LG nearly two billion dollars. Automakers cannot afford to be careless, and that incident led to even stricter battery testing across the industry. It is true that EV fires can be harder to extinguish and can burn hotter, but they remain far less frequent than fires in gasoline vehicles.

US DOE: The Strong Safety Standards Behind Today’s Electric Vehicles

The U.S. Department of Energy states that electric vehicles sold in the United States must meet the same Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that apply to every conventional gasoline car on the road. That means every EV, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid undergoes the same rigorous crash testing and safety evaluations before reaching customers. In many ways, EVs face even tougher scrutiny because of their advanced electrical systems.

Modern EVs use high-voltage systems that typically range from 400 to 1,000 volts. To ensure safety, their battery packs are sealed inside durable protective shells and must meet strict testing requirements. These tests simulate real-world hazards such as overcharging, vibration, extreme heat and cold, short circuits, humidity, fire exposure, collisions, and even water immersion.

Automakers also insulate high-voltage lines throughout the vehicle, and light-duty EVs must include systems that deactivate or isolate high-voltage components when sensors detect a collision or electrical fault. Thanks to their low-mounted battery packs, all-electric cars also tend to have a lower center of gravity than gas vehicles, which makes them more stable and less prone to rollovers.

Emergency response for EVs is generally not much different from responding to incidents involving conventional vehicles. Most EVs include clearly marked cutoff switches or procedures that allow first responders to safely isolate the battery and shut down the electrical system. High-voltage cables are color-coded or labeled, usually in bright orange, to make identification easy and prevent accidental contact.

Automakers and safety organizations have also invested heavily in training resources. Many manufacturers publish detailed emergency response guides for their vehicles, and the National Fire Protection Association offers additional training materials specifically for EV incidents. These resources help firefighters and other emergency personnel handle EVs confidently and safely.

Battery-related fires, while rare, can present unique challenges because of the energy stored inside modern lithium-ion packs. Some situations may require different firefighting techniques or extended monitoring because a damaged battery can reignite hours after an initial incident. This is why first responders are encouraged to rely on manufacturer guides, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) training, and resources such as the Electric Vehicle Fire Primer for Fleet Managers.

EVs Are as Safe as the Smartphones and Laptops We Use Every Day

Electric vehicles often attract attention for their battery technology, but the truth is simple: EVs use lithium-based batteries that follow the same core chemistry found in the smartphones, laptops, tablets, and countless other devices we rely on daily. If we are comfortable carrying lithium batteries in our pockets, backpacks, and homes at all times, then we should understand that EVs, which are built to far stricter standards, are just as safe.

Lithium-ion batteries have been in widespread use for decades. They power billions of devices worldwide with an extremely low fire incident rate. The same chemistry powers electric cars, just on a much larger scale. But scale does not make them more dangerous. In fact, EV batteries are engineered with more robust safety systems than any consumer electronic device.

It is also worth noting that battery issues in everyday electronics are incredibly rare. We do not worry about our laptop igniting while we work or our phone overheating while charging. When incidents do occur, they are almost always tied to physical damage or unauthorized modifications, not normal use. The same is true for EVs.

If we trust lithium batteries enough to keep them inches from our bodies all day long, we can certainly trust them under the floor of our cars, protected by some of the most advanced safety systems in the automotive world.

EVinfo.net’s Take: EV Critics, Trade In Your Smartphones and Laptop Computers for Typewriters, Rotary Phones and Pay Phones

At EVinfo.net, we hear from EV critics on a wide variety of EV misinformation on a daily basis, on our LinkedIn account.

But what gets the critics most fired-up (pun intended) is the EV fire myth. So EV critics, my advice to you if you believe the EV battery fire hysteria, is trade in your smartphones and laptop computers for typewriters, pay phones (yes they still exist), and rotary phones. Then you can truly feel safe, as the smartphones and laptop computers you use have the same lithium batteries as EVs.