The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK continues to accelerate, driven by government policies, sustainability goals and advances in battery technology, however, whilst EVs certainly offer environmental benefits, they also present new challenges for the vehicle recovery and repair industry, particularly regarding fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
Latest research has highlighted key concerns and mitigation strategies that are essential for ensuring safety within the sector, including a recent investigation by Connected Places Catapult, commissioned as part of Innovate UK, who examined the risks of battery fires in electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs).
The eHGV Battery Fire Risks report found that whilst EV fires are statistically less frequent than those involving internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they are often more intense and challenging to extinguish.
In fact, the London Fire Brigade recorded 1,389 fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries between January 2017 and July 2024, with 321 of these involving electric cars and 20 fires attributed to trucks.
In comparison, research from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency in 2023 found that ICE vehicles were 20 times more likely to catch fire than EVs, however, the real challenge with EV fires is their severity, as high energy thermal runaway events can be extremely difficult to control once they begin.
This is because lithium-ion battery fires are often caused by overheating, overcharging or manufacturing defects, however, due to the destructive nature of these incidents, forensic evidence is often lost and can make it difficult to determine the exact causes.
That said, the Dutch public safety institute (NIPV) estimates that the cause of 50% of battery fires actually remains unknown, and collisions are the most common trigger for those cases where causes are identifiable, shortly followed by arson and any charging-related fires being the least frequent.
Another key finding from their data is that only 20% of EV fires occur during or immediately after charging but as charging speeds increase and more EVs congregate at charging sites, the potential for charging-related fires to become a greater risk is increasing.
But given the unique risks posed by EV fires, industry stakeholders are working hard on implementing preventative measures, with the eHGV Battery Fire Risks report recommending a number of control strategies such as:
- Improving site layouts: which could mean evaluating charging sites, depots and parking areas designed with expanded spacing between vehicles to prevent fire spread
- Implementing physical fire barriers: such as isolation zones and fire-resistant structures to help contain potential incidents
- Rolling out enhanced detection systems: such as thermal sensors, automated alarm systems and AI-powered CCTV monitoring to provide early warnings of overheating batteries
- Exploring onboard battery management systems (BMS): as many EVs are equipped with alarms that can detect early signs of thermal runaway and isolate the battery before a fire develops, and if integrated with a site-wide alarm system, these warnings could provide critical extra response time
- And confirming emergency access routes: whereby recovery and repair depots must ensure that emergency services can access EV incidents quickly and safely, with clear pathways for intervention
For vehicle recovery and repair operators, understanding and managing the risks associated with EV fires is absolutely critical, especially as the unpredictability and intensity of battery fires mean that standard response protocols used for petrol and diesel vehicles may not be sufficient.
This also means that recovery operators must be trained in handling EV incidents safely, using specialist equipment and containment strategies where necessary, and that only specialist EV trained repairers should work on those vehicles types to avoid unnecessary risks.
At Egertons, we’re committed to staying ahead of these challenges, and as one of the UK’s leading vehicle rescue and recovery operators, we continuously adapt to industry developments to ensure the highest levels of safety and efficiency.
To do this, our teams are equipped with the latest knowledge and tools to handle EV incidents in everything from roadside recovery and secure transport through to specialist large fleet assistance.
So as EV adoption grows, we believe that awareness of the risks and best practices for mitigating them must increase with it, so that we can all ensure that the recovery and repairs industry continues to support the transition to electric mobility without compromising safety.
And if you’re looking for an experienced recovery partner that understands the complexities of EV incidents, get in touch with Egertons today to see how we can support your fleet safely and efficiently.