Why Media Stories About EV Fires Shouldn’t Worry You

You have probably heard about the massive recall of the Chevrolet Bolt EV due to a defect that significantly increased the risk of fires. After dozens of Chevy Bolts broke out into flames in 2020, General Motors first recalled the model in November before issuing three more recalls in July 2022.

With all this media talk about electric vehicle fires, you are probably wondering if it would be a good (and safe) idea to purchase an EV, especially if you have little or no experience with one before. Data shows that the 2019 Bolt EV with an LG-manufactured battery is nearly 35 times more likely to catch fire than a similar gas-powered model produced in 2019, after all.

It would be easy for a novice to believe that given the large battery stored along the bottoms of electric cars, they present a much higher risk of fire and are essentially ticking bombs. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite the Bolt’s much higher risk of fire, the average electric vehicle is much less likely to catch fire compared to a similar gasoline-powered car.

Since electric cars still make up a pretty small percentage of total vehicle sales, researchers from Auto Insurance EZ compared the number of fires for every 100,000 cars sold. The researchers drew data on fire accidents from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, finding that there were 3,474.5 hybrid fires per 100,000 vehicles, 1,529.9 gasoline car fires, and only 25.1 electric vehicle fires per 100,000.

Media coverage of electric vehicle fires has made it seem like EV fires are much more common. EVs are a new and disruptive technology, meaning they attract plenty of media attention. The presence of a few fires makes for entertaining reporting, especially at a time when electric vehicles are getting a lot of mainstream attention.

Furthermore, extinguishing electric vehicle fires calls for a ton of effort from emergency personnel due to a chain reaction that causes EV batteries to produce more heat than they can dissipate. EV fires are also harder to extinguish than gas car fires, usually requiring tens of thousands of gallons of water, as the lithium-ion batteries within take much longer than gasoline to burn out.

But as the EV industry evolves and matures, car manufacturers such as Nikola Corporation (NASDAQ: NKLA), product safety advocates and law enforcement will likely come up with safety standards and methods to respond to EV fire issues. In the meantime, drivers should know that the risk of encountering an electric vehicle fire is significantly lower than a conventional vehicle fire.

About Green Car Stocks

Green Car Stocks (GCS) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on electric vehicles (EV), as well as other emerging market opportunities in the green sector. The company provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to millions of social media followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, GCS is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, GCS brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. GCS is where news, content and information converge.

To receive SMS text alerts from Green Car Stocks, text “Green” to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information, please visit https://www.greencarstocks.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the Green Car Stocks website applicable to all content provided by GCS, wherever published or re-published: https://www.greencarstocks.com/Disclaimer

Green Car Stocks
Los Angeles, CA
www.greencarstocks.com
415.949.5050 Office
[email protected]

Green Car Stocks is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.

Archives

Select A Month

Contact us: (310) 299-1717