ICE vs EV fires
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,997
From: Maryland
Let's put this in the perspective, with ICE cars only about 1% of fires originate at the gas tank. Majority of fires are either electrical short, or something physically being dragged - something that can happen to EVs as well. Small percentage are also arsons and hot oil/gas leaking onto hot exhaust.
When it comes to EVs, their battery chemistry is premixed for explosion akin to dynamite, and battery explosions are a real concern. They have already suspended the sales for the Chevy EV due to battery fires, and as manufacturers try to squeeze more and more energy into the batteries, the fire risk keeps increasing. Tesla's new 4680 batteries that they have been touting for years have not entered mass production precisely for this reason.
With that being said, the fire risk is minimal and not really a concern. As long as the car is new, well maintained and undamaged, and the charger is working properly, it's just not an issue. The risk somewhat increases as the car gets older, but the same is true for ICEs. A real concern are cheap aftermarket and remanufactured Li-Cnsm batteries. These are dangerous in electronic devices, and especially dangerous in huge EV battery packs. While cheap aftermarket Prius batteries simply don't hold the charge as well as the original battery, and the worst that can happen is they leak and corrode everything around them, the risk of explosion of with a cheap Lithium battery is a huge concern.
When it comes to EVs, their battery chemistry is premixed for explosion akin to dynamite, and battery explosions are a real concern. They have already suspended the sales for the Chevy EV due to battery fires, and as manufacturers try to squeeze more and more energy into the batteries, the fire risk keeps increasing. Tesla's new 4680 batteries that they have been touting for years have not entered mass production precisely for this reason.
With that being said, the fire risk is minimal and not really a concern. As long as the car is new, well maintained and undamaged, and the charger is working properly, it's just not an issue. The risk somewhat increases as the car gets older, but the same is true for ICEs. A real concern are cheap aftermarket and remanufactured Li-Cnsm batteries. These are dangerous in electronic devices, and especially dangerous in huge EV battery packs. While cheap aftermarket Prius batteries simply don't hold the charge as well as the original battery, and the worst that can happen is they leak and corrode everything around them, the risk of explosion of with a cheap Lithium battery is a huge concern.
That is not what I said, Prius batteries are not Lithium, they are not prone to explosions. I said cheap Prius batteries just wont hold charge as well as OEM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 4,291
From: Alberta
Confirmation bias is one hell of a drug. Let's look at some actual data:
Government data show gasoline vehicles are up to 100x more prone to fires than EVs
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
The 4680 isn't due to fire risk. The battery itself has already passed validation stages. They are having issues perfecting the mass production of the batteries because it's a completely new process. They can do it consistently in their small Fremont fab but are having more issues in Austin because it's much larger scale.
The first Model Ys with 4680 will be delivered this month.
The first Model Ys with 4680 will be delivered this month.
As far as I know, Prius batteries are NiMH, unless the new Prius is now using Lithium batteries, but these are far too new and would still be under warranty, so no need for replacement.
If you are talking about aftermarket Lithium batteries hacked to replace NiMH, good luck with that. Even though they are far smaller and less dangerous than full EV battery packs, I would still avoid them unless they are from a very reputable brand and priced comparable to new OEM NiMH battery.
I'm sure you're well aware as EVs get older there will be a flood of cheap batteries on the market. Most of these are going to be made of used cells that are pulled from old battery packs that still have some life in them, mixed and matched, and with these the fire risk becomes very real. I won't even use cheap lithium batteries in a flashlight for that precise reason, never mind an EV battery pack where one compromised cell can cause the whole thing to explode.
If you are talking about aftermarket Lithium batteries hacked to replace NiMH, good luck with that. Even though they are far smaller and less dangerous than full EV battery packs, I would still avoid them unless they are from a very reputable brand and priced comparable to new OEM NiMH battery.
I'm sure you're well aware as EVs get older there will be a flood of cheap batteries on the market. Most of these are going to be made of used cells that are pulled from old battery packs that still have some life in them, mixed and matched, and with these the fire risk becomes very real. I won't even use cheap lithium batteries in a flashlight for that precise reason, never mind an EV battery pack where one compromised cell can cause the whole thing to explode.
Like I said before, its whatever fits their worldview must be true.
I actually personally know someone who's ICE car started a fire parked in his garage and burned his house down. These things can and do happen but they are extraordinarily rare.
I would park an EV in my garage and charge it without fear.
I actually personally know someone who's ICE car started a fire parked in his garage and burned his house down. These things can and do happen but they are extraordinarily rare.
I would park an EV in my garage and charge it without fear.
Circumstances of how ICE/EV catch on fire are murky at best. Was EV just sitting around, was it charging, spontaneously caught on fire? Was ICE sitting around cold? ICE tends to catch on fire when there is a hot engine, NHTSA states a huge majority of ICE fires start in the engine bay (as expected) since gasoline needs an ignition source, but not a lithium battery. ICE can catch on fire from a power steering leak on older vehicles. How old was the ICE, corroded/old fuel/PS lines, crappy repair or mod, or factory defect? Who knows.
Last edited by 4TehNguyen; Apr 3, 2022 at 10:31 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,992
Likes: 519
From: Maryland
Go do some research and you'll find that there are far more ICE fires as a percentage than EV fires. Its not even close. EV fires are more difficult to control right now but if an ICE catches fire, I doubt the fire fighters would have enough time to get to my house before my house burns down anyway. I haven't ever heard of a Tesla Powerwall burning down a house either and they've installed a bunch of those across the nation too. Such a small risk...way riskier just driving to work.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
It is absolutely silly to deny lithium battery risk, and it's clear EVs are far more prone to fires than ICEs. It's happening quite often, just lasts month a huge ship carrying thousands of nice cars has sunk because of a fire started by a stupid EV.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
Originally Posted by Och
It is absolutely silly to deny lithium battery risk, and it's clear EVs are far more prone to fires than ICEs. It's happening quite often, just lasts month a huge ship carrying thousands of nice cars has sunk because of a fire started by a stupid EV.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
Originally Posted by patgilm
Is anyone really worried about EV fires burning down a house? If you are worried about that, don't go swimming in the ocean, you may get eaten by a shark.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 25,962
Likes: 4,291
From: Alberta
the figure in question was "only 4 battery fires since 2014" not that ICE/EV catch on fire more. , which is incredibly inaccurate considering how many EV threads have been going on here in the past year. And it was easy to track down where that figure came from and easily refutable from a list of incidents that totaled more than 4. GM alone confirm 16 fires from the Bolt. Did really no one head scratch such a red flag figure that was stated more than once in this discussion?
- Hybrid vehicles: 3,474 fires per 100K sales
- Gas vehicles: 1,529 fires per 100K sales
- Electric vehicles: 25 fires per 100K sales
https://www.autoinsuranceez.com/gas-...ric-car-fires/
https://ndakotalaw.com/do-electric-c...ered-vehicles/
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,486
Likes: 3,997
From: Maryland
There are instances where management bans EVs from parking on their properties due to fire risks. Must be just FUD.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
Originally Posted by Och
Lol when a single EV pos takes out a whole ship loaded with ICEs or a whole parking garage, you can use twisted logic to argue that ICEs are more prone to fires.
There are instances where management bans EVs from parking on their properties due to fire risks. Must be just FUD.
There are instances where management bans EVs from parking on their properties due to fire risks. Must be just FUD.