While headlines about electric vehicle fires have captured public attention in recent months, extensive data reveals that EVs actually experience fires at a remarkably lower rate than their gas-powered counterparts. Industry statistics show approximately 25 fires per 100,000 electric vehicles sold in the U.S., compared to a staggering 1,530 fires per 100,000 gas-powered vehicles—a difference of over 60 times.
The supposed “spike” in EV fires primarily reflects the natural increase in total incidents due to growing EV adoption rather than a higher per-vehicle rate. With EVs now comprising 0.9% of all U.S. vehicle registrations at 2.4 million units, more total fires are inevitable despite the lower incident rate. This notable rise in registration numbers represents a dramatic increase from the mere 280,000 registered EVs in 2016.
Tesla’s data is particularly telling: one fire per 130 million miles traveled versus one per 18 million miles for conventional vehicles.
Tesla vehicles experience fires at only 1/7th the rate of conventional cars—once per 130 million miles versus once per 18 million.
Swedish research corroborates these findings, with internal combustion engine vehicles experiencing fires 20 times more frequently than EVs in 2022. Similar patterns emerge in Norway, Australia, and other markets with significant EV penetration. The overall trend in vehicle fires has actually been declining, from 456,000 highway vehicle fires in 1980 to under 182,000 in 2018.
I’ve reviewed the global data on battery-related fires in light-duty EVs, which documents roughly 500 incidents between 2010 and June 2024—representing about 1 in 100,000 of the estimated 40 million EVs worldwide.
Curiously, hybrids present the highest fire risk at 3,475 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold.
That said, EV fires do present unique challenges. Their lithium-ion battery fires resist conventional extinguishing methods, often requiring substantial water resources and hours to suppress. These fires can reignite unexpectedly and emit over 100 chemicals including heavy metals and hydrogen cyanide, posing prolonged exposure risks to first responders. Modern electric vehicles utilize sophisticated Battery Management Systems that continuously monitor battery health and temperature to prevent thermal runaway events that could lead to fires. A recent example occurred in January 2025 at the Moss Landing facility, where a lithium battery fire burned for two days and required evacuation of 1,200 residents.
The automotive industry continues advancing battery safety technology, with manufacturers implementing more robust monitoring systems and improved cell isolation techniques. Regulatory standards continue to evolve as the technology matures, suggesting that the safety gap between EVs and conventional vehicles may widen further in coming years.
