Electric Vehicles on the Rise: Are You Prepared for the Fire Risk?
As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly common across Singapore, the importance of EV fire preparedness cannot be overstated. While these vehicles offer clear environmental and efficiency benefits, they also introduce new and complex fire risks that many facilities and personnel are still not adequately prepared to handle.
Unlike conventional vehicles, EVs are powered by high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
When compromised through impact, improper charging, or even manufacturing defects — these batteries can enter thermal runaway, triggering a fast, fierce, and self-sustaining fire that is extremely difficult to control.
An EV fire is not your typical vehicle fire.
It can burn at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, potentially damaging nearby structures. The fire may reignite hours or even days later, long after it is thought to be extinguished. The flames are often accompanied by toxic and corrosive gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing further health and environmental risks.
The potential damage from an EV fire is significant and far-reaching:
- Extreme heat may cause structural failure in basements, car parks, or workshops.
- Fire spread may affect nearby vehicles or infrastructure in densely packed urban environments.
- Toxic fumes may lead to costly decontamination of ventilation systems and surrounding spaces.
- Business impact includes prolonged closures, revenue loss, insurance complications, and reputational damage.
- Financial costs can escalate quickly — with past incidents resulting in multi-million dollar damages to facilities and operations.
At COSEM, we provide a practical, scenario-based Fire Blanket Training for Electric Vehicles (EV) Fires course that equips participants to manage these evolving risks and be emergency ready. The course includes:
- Statistics of car fires in Singapore & overseas
- Hazards of Lithium–ion batteries
- Signs of EV car fire
- Video on EV fire
- Use of Hose Reel & SCBA
- Practical use of Fire Blanket
Fire blankets are especially effective in containing battery fires by smothering the flames and cutting off oxygen supply — reducing the risk of spread and buying time for safe evacuation and response.
Learn how our Electric Vehicle Fire Response Course can enhance your team’s confidence and competence in dealing with EV fires.
Drop us an email at enquiry@cosem.org.sg to find out how you can be EV fire emergency ready.