The fire rate of electric vehicles is 61 times lower than that of gasoline vehicles

Only 25 out of 100,000 all-electric vehicles are likely to catch fire, compared to more than 1,500 gasoline vehicles and nearly 3,500 hybrid vehicles, according to research from National Transportation Safety Board data. American National Institute (NTSB).

The rate of electric vehicles burning is extremely low

The recent study was conducted by AutoInsuranceEZ, an American insurance company, based on data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and recall data. According to the US Government, vehicles with internal combustion engines have a significantly higher number of fires than fully electric vehicles.

Accordingly, battery electric vehicles have only a 0.025% chance of catching fire, compared to 1.5% for internal combustion engine vehicles and 3.4% for hybrid vehicles. The study revealed that petrol and diesel vehicles experienced 1,530 fires per 100,000 vehicles, while only 25 out of 100,000 all-electric vehicles caught fire. This means that the fire rate of electric vehicles is only 1/61 compared to cars using gasoline and oil.

In an interview with Forbes earlier this year, Richard Billyeald, CTO of Thatcham Research – the leading auto and motorbike insurance research center in the UK, said that electric vehicles generally have a lower risk of fire than electric vehicles. fossil fuel. “This is also reflected in the safety testing we carry out in the UK on behalf of Euro NCAP, where although there are strong impacts to the front and especially the sides of the vehicle, where the battery is susceptible the most damage, but no heat phenomenon occurred.

Similar comments were also made in Sweden. According to a report by the Swedish Civil Contingency Agency MSB, by 2022, there will be nearly 611,000 electric and hybrid vehicles circulating here. With an average of 16 electric and hybrid vehicle fires each year, the risk of fire is 1 in 38,000. While with gasoline/diesel vehicles, there are an average of 3,384 fires per year out of a total of 4.4 million vehicles, a fire rate of 1 in 1,300.

Why are electric cars more difficult to cause a fire than gasoline cars?

According to experts, there are many reasons why electric vehicles are less likely to catch fire. First of all, about structure. Friction between parts is often the cause of fires, leading to overheating. Meanwhile, electric vehicles have much fewer moving parts, so they are less likely to cause a fire. Electric vehicles also don’t have flammable liquids like gasoline and don’t have hot exhaust gases to stimulate combustion. Without the cooling provided by the radiator and the coolant continuously circulating through the engine, a gasoline vehicle would overheat and potentially catch fire within minutes.

The most important part of an electric vehicle is the battery, which is often mistakenly thought to be the cause of vehicle fires. However, experts say the technology used in electric vehicle batteries is specifically designed to ensure safety. Unlike gasoline, which ignites immediately when exposed to a spark or flame, lithium-ion batteries need time to reach the necessary heat for ignition. Meanwhile, the battery system on electric vehicles is protected with a thick layer of metal to minimize risk. Furthermore, the battery pack on an electric vehicle is a collection of countless separate modules, each module has its own “fuse” system to cut off power to each part, helping to reduce the risk of fire and explosion.

Manufacturers also incorporate additional safety measures to prevent fires. The battery is surrounded by a cooling shroud filled with liquid coolant, preventing overheating. Even if the coolant is damaged, the EV batteries are still arranged in compartmentalized clusters, limiting damage in the event of a malfunction.

In addition to hardware, electric vehicles are also guaranteed to be safe thanks to software. The BMS battery management system is responsible for detecting and preventing heat leaks and short circuits. Additionally, the battery thermal management system (BTMS) ensures that the battery pack stays within a safe temperature range, using techniques such as active air cooling or liquid cooling. This system combines with vents to release gases produced at high temperatures, reducing pressure buildup.

Although the risk of fire in electric vehicles is extremely low compared to other types of fuel-powered vehicles, as with all electric devices, experts recommend that the most important thing is that users must use them properly. follow the recommended guidelines, co-opt electric vehicles from reputable manufacturers in the market. Currently, electric vehicle production technology is also being continuously improved to prevent possible fires.

With the safety commitments made, VinFast strives every day to protect its customers in all circumstances and conditions.

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