Electric Vehicle Fires in the First Half of This Year Match Last Year's Total... "Response Manual Needed"

44 Cases Last Year, 42 Cases in the First Half of This Year

A total of 42 electric vehicle (EV) fire incidents were reported in the first half of this year. This number is close to the 44 cases recorded throughout last year. Experts advise that because EV fires tend to cause extensive damage and are difficult for the general public to extinguish, measures such as distributing user manuals should be prepared.

The National Fire Agency announced on the 25th that since 2020 through June of this year, a total of 121 EV fire incidents have occurred. This represents a steady increase of about double each year.

Looking at the annual EV fire statistics, there were 11 cases in 2020 (0 casualties), 24 cases in 2021 (1 casualty), 44 cases in 2022 (4 casualties), and 42 cases (6 casualties) in just the first half of this year.

EVs are characterized by the difficulty and lengthy time required to extinguish fires. The lithium-ion batteries installed in EVs have improved driving range due to their high efficiency, but if overused, they pose a high risk of thermal runaway. Additionally, thermal runaway triggers various side reactions accompanied by gas generation, which can lead to explosions.

According to a Tesla report from the United States, extinguishing EV fires requires eight times longer than gasoline vehicles and 2.5 times more personnel. The amount of water needed for fire suppression is about 1 ton for internal combustion engine vehicles, but approximately 110 tons for EVs.

Professor Kim Pil-su of Daelim University stated, "The incidence rate of EV fires is relatively lower than that of internal combustion engine vehicles, but due to the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries, once a fire starts, it is difficult for ordinary people to extinguish it."

Especially in South Korea, compared to advanced countries, there are many underground parking lots, so once a fire occurs, the damage can be greater. According to the National Fire Agency, the number of EV fire incidents by location was highest on general roads with 47 cases, followed by parking lots with 46 cases, highways with 12 cases, and other roads with 7 cases.

Despite the frequent EV fires, there is still no proper response manual from the passenger's perspective. The National Fire Agency published the "Electric Vehicle Accident Response Manual" in 2020 and has been steadily updating it. However, this manual is intended for firefighters responding to EV fires. Automobile manufacturers provide handling instructions for various accidents through the user manuals given at the time of EV delivery. However, EV fire guidance is limited to about one page within the manual as part of other accident responses such as warning lights, towing, and heavy snow.

The most important thing during an EV fire is to escape from the vehicle. Some manufacturers' EV models have doors that cannot be opened from inside or outside if the power is cut off during an accident or fire. In such cases, the mechanical door release device must be used to open the door, and since the location and operation of this device vary by manufacturer and model, prior knowledge is necessary.

Additionally, normal driving habits can also cause EV fires. For example, since the battery pack is located under the vehicle, driving over high or damaged speed bumps can damage the vehicle's underside, which may lead to a fire.

Reporting EV fires requires extra caution. If a fire occurs in an underground parking lot, after calling 119 and 112, the building management office should be immediately informed to initiate evacuation announcements. Also, since EVs and firefighting equipment differ significantly from regular vehicles, it is important to clearly state "electric vehicle fire" when reporting to emergency services. EV fires are difficult to extinguish with regular fire extinguishers, so lithium battery-specific extinguishers and smothering fire blankets should be available.

Experts advise developing various firefighting methods while also creating response manuals for EV fires and educating consumers. Professor Kim said, "Internal combustion engine vehicles have accumulated response know-how over 130 years of operation. For EVs, while fire suppression is important, it is crucial to establish and disseminate quick evacuation methods for passengers, fire prevention measures, and fire reporting procedures."