Incidences of electric vehicles (EVs) catching fire have raised doubts about their future potential
Aiming to control climate change, an electric revolution is currently underway across the globe. While there is ample consumer interest and things appear to be working in most parts, recent cases of electric vehicle catching fire has raised concerns. Some of the leading auto brands including Tesla, Hyundai and General Motors have been facing issues related to their EVs catching fire. Electric two-wheelers have also been seen to go up in flames. Such incidents may prompt customers to rethink their decision to switch to electric.
It also makes us wonder why electric vehicles (EVs) are so prone to fires. Is it safe to use electric vehicles? And how users can prevent electric vehicle fires? To answer such questions, here’s a look at some key reasons why electric vehicles (EVs) catch fire.
Defective battery cell – A battery pack used in an EV comprises of battery cells. Even if one of these is defective, it can lead to overheating and subsequent fire.
Short circuit – If there is damage in the wires or battery cells, it can result in overheating and fire.
Faulty charger – Not using original charger or using the charger in an improper manner can lead to fires.
Software glitch – Charge and discharge of battery is controlled by the battery management system (BMS). This ensures that the battery pack is not heated beyond a certain limit. In case there is a software glitch, it can lead to battery overheating and fire.
Are electric vehicles (EVs) safe?
Electric vehicles catching fire is a matter of concern, but such cases are rare. One needs to understand that even fossil fuel powered vehicles have gone up in flames several times in the past. Moreover, there are specific precautions that one can take to reduce the risk of EVs catching fire.
Read the instruction manual properly and follow it in the described manner. Make sure you clear all your doubts before you start using the EV.
Avoid using third-party accessories; always use company certified charger and other equipment
Avoid parking the EV in sunlight, as it can lead to overheating issues
Do not overcharge the EV by leaving it on overnight
Avoid charging the battery immediately after a ride; allow some cooling period before charging the battery
Monitor battery health and performance and ensure the EV is serviced regularly
While cases of electric vehicles catching fire are rare, it is imperative that auto companies work to improve safety standards. Such incidents can adversely impact consumer confidence, which could work to undermine large scale migration to electric vehicles. We hope that EVs of the future will be a lot safer and things like EVs catching fire will be relegated to history books.
An EV comprising lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells requires a few hundred degrees Celsius before suffering a 'thermal runaway incident' and that causes EV fires. Extreme hot weather conditions and improper thermal management systems of the battery can negatively impact performance and shorten life, they do not cause fires.
Explained: Why electric vehicles are catching fire and what you can do
In the latest incident which happened in Telangana, a man lost his life after the detachable battery of the electric scooter, which was kept for charging, exploded in his house.
Over the recent past, a series of instances of electric vehicles (EV), specifically electric two-wheelers catching fire in various parts of the country has left consumers and stakeholders worried. In the latest incident which happened in Telangana on the night of Tuesday, April 19, a man lost his life after the detachable battery of the electric scooter, which was kept for charging, exploded in his house. So far, three Pure EV, one Ola, two Okinawa, and 20 Jitendra EV scooters have caught fire. So what is causing this spate of incidents?
Are high summer temperatures to blame?
While it’s easy to attribute the EV fires to rising temperatures, experts suggest looking at how a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is packed and designed. EVs are powered by Li-ion batteries, which are generally considered to be lightweight and efficient. However, they also pose a fire risk.
“Common misconceptions such as the Indian summers and poor thermal management being the reason for (outbreaks of) fire are not true. The recent fires you see are a result of thermal runaway,” according to Exponent Energy, an EV tech startup. Exponent Energy maintained that li-ion cells need to reach a few hundred degrees before having a thermal runaway incident.
Explained: Why electric vehicles are catching fire and what you can do
In the latest incident which happened in Telangana, a man lost his life after the detachable battery of the electric scooter, which was kept for charging, exploded in his house.
Ola Electric vehicle: Explained: Why electric vehicles are catching fire and what you can do
Over the recent past, a series of instances of electric vehicles (EV), specifically electric two-wheelers catching fire in various parts of the country has left consumers and stakeholders worried. In the latest incident which happened in Telangana on the night of Tuesday, April 19, a man lost his life after the detachable battery of the electric scooter, which was kept for charging, exploded in his house. So far, three Pure EV, one Ola, two Okinawa, and 20 Jitendra EV scooters have caught fire. So what is causing this spate of incidents?
Are high summer temperatures to blame?
While it’s easy to attribute the EV fires to rising temperatures, experts suggest looking at how a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is packed and designed. EVs are powered by Li-ion batteries, which are generally considered to be lightweight and efficient. However, they also pose a fire risk.
“Common misconceptions such as the Indian summers and poor thermal management being the reason for (outbreaks of) fire are not true. The recent fires you see are a result of thermal runaway,” according to Exponent Energy, an EV tech startup. Exponent Energy maintained that li-ion cells need to reach a few hundred degrees before having a thermal runaway incident.
“Most modern batteries automatically switch off around 45-55°C. And even if these thermal-based safety precautions don’t kick in, you won’t see a thermal runaway (fire) because batteries cannot heat themselves up by a few hundred degrees celsius under normal operations,” the blog said.
“99% of battery fires are due to short circuits leading to uncontrolled current. This is the only scenario in which cells heat themselves up beyond 100°C,” a blog post by the company added.
The reason why short circuits happen has also been attributed to poor cell quality, bad battery design and poor battery management system, where cells aren’t properly managed with the right software intelligence.
Tarun Mehta, founder of Ather Energy, told the Indian Express that manufacturers are not spending enough time to design products, and testing standards prescribed by government bodies may be inadequate to test all real-life situations accurately.
How you can minimise risk of EV fires
Avoid charging the EV battery immediately after the EV stops running, since the li-ion cells contained in the battery remain hot for some time. Let the battery cool down and then put it on charge.
Only use the designated battery and charging cable which is designed for the vehicle. Using a local battery that is cheaper can result in damage to the electric vehicle.
If it is a detachable battery, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or in hot vehicles and keep it in areas with adequate ventilation. Take care to buy replacement batteries and chargers which match and come from the original manufacturer or an authorised seller.
Inspect your battery periodically for damage before use and in case of any defect, stop using it and report it to the manufacturer. If the battery is extremely hot or shows any damage, avoid using it.
Government steps in
With increasing incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire, the government has swung into action. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the companies found negligent will be penalised and a recall of all defective vehicles will be ordered after receiving the report of an expert panel that has been formed to enquire into the matter. In a series of tweets, Gadkari said several mishaps involving electric two-wheelers have come to light in the last two months, and the government will soon issue quality-centric guidelines for electric vehicles.
The government had ordered a probe last month after an e-scooter launched by ride-hailing operator Ola's electric mobility arm caught fire in Pune.
The Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) had been asked to probe the circumstances that led to the incident and also suggest remedial measures, according to the road transport ministry. The ministry had also asked CFEES to share the findings along with its suggestions on measures to prevent such incidents.
Government think tank Niti Aayog on Thursday also came out with a draft battery swapping policy for electric vehicles and suggested incentives as well as a rigorous testing protocol for swappable batteries.
The Aayog in its draft policy further said all major cities such as state capitals, UT headquarters and cities with population above 5 lakh will be covered under the second phase, given the importance of the two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicle segments in growing cities.
The policy seeks a level playing field across business models involving the sale of EVs with fixed or swappable batteries.
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