Are we prepared to tackle the fire risks of batteries? Calls for action and initiatives on electric vehicle and battery fire safety. EuroNews notes that fires in electric vehicles occur less often than in internal combustion engine cars (pinfa notes that this may be because fire performance requirements for materials in EVs are generally more demanding). But battery fires are more difficult to extinguish, tend to reignite and require considerably more firefighting water. Electric vehicle fires pose new risks for maritime transport (see pinfa Newsletter n°152). With e-bike battery fires now London’s fastest growing fire risk (over 120 fires in the first eight months of 2023, resulting in three deaths and over 50 injuries), a coroner has called on the UK regulator to tighten safety standards.
“Sales of EVs are booming in Europe but are we equipped to tackle blazes caused by batteries?”, EuroNews, 20 September 2023 https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/09/20/sales-of-evs-are-booming-in-europe-but-are-we-equipped-to-tackle-blazes-caused-by-batterie