Electric vehicle (EV) fires are rare, but they can be dangerous. In recent months, there have been a number of EV fires in India, including one in Bengaluru.
There are a number of factors that can cause EV fires. These include:
- Manufacturing defects: Faulty battery cells or assembly can lead to fires.
- Physical damage: Impacts or punctures to the battery can also cause fires.
- Overheating: If the battery overheats, it can catch fire.
- Software glitches: Software glitches can also cause fires, especially if they affect battery management systems.
Electric two-wheelers are at a higher risk of fire than electric cars due to a number of factors. These include:
- Smaller battery packs: Electric two-wheelers have smaller battery packs than electric cars, which makes them more susceptible to overheating.
- Poor quality battery design: Many electric two-wheeler manufacturers use low-quality battery cells and designs, which increase the risk of fire.
- Lack of safety standards: There are no uniform safety standards for electric two-wheelers in India, which makes it difficult to ensure that all vehicles are safe.
If you own an EV, it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of fire. These include:
- Only use approved chargers: Use only chargers that are approved by the manufacturer of your EV.
- Avoid physical damage: Avoid hitting or puncturing your EV’s battery.
- Keep your EV cool: Avoid parking your EV in direct sunlight or in hot environments.
- Update your software: Keep your EV’s software up to date.
If you see an EV fire, it is important to stay away and call the fire department immediately.
