Well based on all the numbers out there so far, EVs are far less likely to go on fire this is based on the current statistics as reported by institutions that are involved in fire safety instead of random articles people have read in the tabloid press. This whole thread is about mis reporting of EV related issues and how it's resulted in a distorted view of the facts.
I thought you said earlier you owned a PHEV, most ICE vehicles avoid the expense of heat pump as it's much cheaper to just scavenge waste heat from the engine.
statistically they aren't
have we not already discussed this? All current cars are much heavier than cars from the 70s that's a shambles of an article
Fuel fires are more common especially in a modern engine that runs hot. ICE also have electrical fires. So really an ICE ticks almost every box on the risk list.
….
Yes, I have a RAV4 PHEV with both an ice and heat pump. The normal hybrid (have a Camry one) just uses warm water. I don’t really care whether ice or bevs or hybrids are more or less of a fire risk. My point was that the majority of fires come from the electrical system in a car and the fuelling isn’t that relevant… I’m actually supporting you sensitive Bev souls.
Actually it is. A liquid fuel tank and fuel lines are much more likely to catch fire in the event of an electrical fault.
A lithium ion battery will catch fire if it’s severely damaged or punctured, not likely in an EV as all that extra weight is due to the shielding designed to prevent that from happening.
The BMS and high voltage isolation also protect the traction battery from overloading and faults.
Safety systems can still fail but 12v circuits are most likely to cause problems.
the majority of vehicle fires are in ICE vehicles, thats all thats being said, yet there is a fear out there in the general public that EVs are likely to go on fire. Which is the very definition of FUD.
the truth is probably either in the middle or not yet uncovered. This is a solid article on the issue:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/20/do-electric-cars-pose-a-greater-fire-risk-than-petrol-or-diesel-vehicles
I think the observation that things may change as bevs age is interesting. Vehicle fire tend to be influenced by age (chafed insulation, perished pipes, damaged looms)
Every article that is not in the favour of EV can't be labelled as Anti-EV.
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/0516/1449445-hybrid-car-sales-electric-vehicles-analysis-ireland/
This is very well written and to the point. Explains why EV sales keep decreasing despite better supply and why more people are choosing hybrid
The problem is the nature and severity of the fires. EV's battery fires are much worse than non-EV's.
0.012% of a problem.
the stats are the stats, if they change in the future, lets revisit, that doesnt change the fact the incorrect narrative is being peddled.
One thing is that if your assertions are correct then a PHEV is the worst of both worlds, lets hope that all the bmw 225xes out there dont instantly combust.
from the article
“All the data shows that EVs are just much, much less likely to set on fire than their petrol equivalent,” said Colin Walker, the head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank. “The many, many fires that you have for petrol or diesel cars just aren’t reported.”
Not every article is labelled anti EV.
You don't have to buy a car over 40k, you don't need to buy new, you can find some used EVs cheaper than an equivalent ICE car.
If your life or driving doesn't suit an EV don't buy one. I'm not buying a 2 seater convertible for the same reason. I'm also not buying diesel for same reason.
who labelled that article anti ev?
its reasonably well written and balanced imo but this piece is nonsense and was never really the case:
We are used to our cars depreciating the moment we buy them, maybe losing 10% of the value each year initially.
Im actually move concerned about CVT than EV. They're still relatively new but I reckon as more reach high mileage without the proper scheduled maintenance you'll see their value tank, which will be bad for the likes of Toyota and Nissan.
Good quote from the article
A big challenge for many drivers is that they simply cannot afford the car prices of close to €40,000.
Checks best-selling car this year in Ireland, it's a Tucson which starts at €39,045
†Excludes delivery & related charges.
That's not true. An ambulance going up in flames is much worse than an EV battery fire with all the chemicals in the medication going up
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cl5q1p4v30ko
So I can get a Tesla Model 3 for about 2k less than the cost of a Hyundai Tucson? Great to see the times changing
Oh for heaven's sake, an EV with Li ion batteries produce runaway fires that last for days and can't be extinguished.
An ambulance fire can literally kill somebody strapped to a bed in the back
Days? 🤣
Yet we walk around with them in our pockets and think nothing of it… strange that.
A Russia tank with a Ukrainian grenade dropped through its hatch is a spectacular fireball too.
The rate of fire instances per ICE and per EV sold from a set starting date, say when the Nissan Note launched is more relevant for comparison.
What has the nissan note got to do with it?
They've the figures in Sweden where they have over 600k EVs. ICE cars are 20 time more likely to go on fire.
The main issue with EV fires is how to extinguish them. The battery containment makes this extremely difficult as water can't get near the seat of the fire. Different methodologies have been devised. A fire blanket is one. (Anyone who loves Nissan Leafs look away now). 🤣
Or puncturing the battery pack from underneath and flooding it with water.
Oh I see, the set of data doesn't suit the FUD narrative so let's change it. Howabout we narrow it a bit. In 2023 there was the Luton Airport car park fire and the Newbridge McDonalds fire both started by diesel cars. Freemantle Highway - still unsure if it was even a car that started it but we know it wasn't an EV so place in the "Maybe" pile perhaps?
Got any examples of EV fires in 2023?
I'll accept what ever the data clarifies. If say by the starting point I proffered of comparing data from the introduction of the first EV into a market, then if the rate of fires say ICE is higher than EV, or vice versa then fine. I don't feel I'm batting for a side.
I'm curious as to what data available tells us.
I'm not sure what the example of your multi car fire is supposed to argue, but I'd just like to know if there's any info on the rate of a single vehicle catching fire independently.
For comparison it's the rate and not the total of fires in each segment that matters.
when did this happen?
