02.1 EV battery fires - current data
How many electric vehicles catch fire globally?
The short answer to that questions is we don't know.
There is no complete global database of EV battery fires, and only a small number of countries track national data.
EV FireSafe's research tracks and verifies EV battery fires - thermal runaway events - globally, however our dataset is foundational, and not a representative total of all incidents globally.
From this foundational dataset, we can draw learnings that are important to know, such as:
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Leading causes of EV thermal runaway
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What percentage of incidents involved connection to charging?
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What percentage of EVs go into delayed or secondary thermal runaway?
This page contains data that is updated at least every 6 months, and which is available for use for emergency agencies and not-for-profit organisations. Any organisation wishing to use EV FireSafe data in for-profit activities, such as training, must seek permission at hello@evfiresafe.com
EV FireSafe is proud to receive funding from the Australian Department of Defence (Defence Science & Technology Group) to conduct this research.
Please note our database is not publicly available and remains the intellectual property of EV FireSafe.
Latest data update - 30th September 2026
Our latest data is provided in good faith. While we've made every attempt to ensure that the information contained here is from reliable sources, EV FireSafe is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information on this site is provided 'as is' with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event, will EV FireSafe, or it's related partnerships, agents or employees be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken which relies on the information in this site, or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
Number of global incidents tracked and verified
Please note our research is not exhaustive & cannot hope to capture every incident globally.
Incidents captured on our database are sourced & verified from online source, interviews, first hand accounts, videos, images, academic & fire agency reports & online training.
incidents studied
(global, since 2010)
1072
What are the leading causes of thermal runaway in electric vehicles?
There are four leading causes our global research has identified:
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Collision
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Battery fault
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External fire
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Submersion
What percentage of incidents studied involved
EV charging?
While electrically compliant EV charging that has been installed to standard by a qualified person cannot cause an EV battery fire in a normally operating vehicle, a significant percentage of incidents involved charging.
of incidents studied
(global, since 2010)
18%
What percentage of incidents studied involved delayed or secondary thermal runaway?
Delayed and secondary thermal runaway pose a risk to everyone working in the chain of responsibility for a heavily damaged vehicle.
