Let’s Talk Facts, Not Fear About EV Fires

Every few months a headline pops up stoking fears about EV fires. Let’s cut through the smoke: the truth is, EVs are far less likely to catch fire than their gas-powered cousins.

Yes, less likely.

Multiple studies across the globe—Australia, Sweden, and even Tesla’s own data—tell the same story: gas cars are up to 80 times more likely to catch fire. EV FireSafe (funded by Australia’s Department of Defence) found electric cars had a fire risk of just 0.0012% compared to 0.1% for gas-powered cars.

So why the drama? Part of it is unfamiliarity. EVs are still new to some folks, and it’s human nature to worry about what we don’t understand. But if we applied the same level of scrutiny to gas vehicles—machines that carry flammable liquid in a hot engine compartment—people would question why we ever allowed them in our garages.

And here’s a little perspective: According to the National Safety Council, your odds of dying in a car crash are 1 in 95. Drowning? 1 in 1,073. EV battery fire? About 1 in 83,000. We should worry more about highway or swimming accidents, not a Chevy Bolt or Tesla Model Y catching fire..

EVs are held to high safety standards. Their batteries are sealed, tested under extreme conditions, and surrounded by crash-resistant frames. There are more than four million EVs on U.S. roads. They’re parked in private and public garages, shopping centers, and quietly on just about every street. 

Still, the misleading stories persist on cable news, showing fiery footage of EVs burning in charging stations, in parking structures, and in their owners’ home garages.

The news headlines are inaccurate. Most vehicle fires of all types occur on the highway; only 16% of fires happen when a vehicle is parked in a garage.

Fear shouldn't steer policy or perception. When it comes to fire risk, the evidence is clear: EVs are among the safest vehicles ever made. So let’s drive the conversation with facts, not fear.