{"id":1663,"date":"2025-08-11T12:38:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T16:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new-beq.adgmarketing.com\/voitures-electriques-qui-prennent-feu-faut-il-sinquieter\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T11:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T16:18:33","slug":"electric-cars-that-catch-fire-should-we-be-worried","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new-beq.adgmarketing.com\/en\/electric-cars-that-catch-fire-should-we-be-worried\/","title":{"rendered":"Electric car fires: should we be worried?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, an incident involving a 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric raised concerns: the vehicle caught fire while parked in its owner\u2019s yard. Needless to say, this type of news quickly attracts attention, especially when it comes to electric vehicles. The image of a vehicle in flames can strike the imagination\u2026 but what is the reality?<\/p>\n

Should we be afraid of electric cars? Are they more likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered models? Let\u2019s examine the facts, without minimizing the risks, but without giving in to panic.<\/p>\n

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ALL VEHICLES CAN CATCH FIRE<\/h2>\n

The first thing to remember is that fire is not a problem exclusive to electric vehicles. Gasoline and diesel cars have always posed a fire risk. Fuel tanks, engine oil, hot exhaust systems, electrical short circuits\u2014all of these factors can lead to a fire.<\/p>\n

Data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States shows that more than 150,000 motor vehicle fires occur each year\u2026 and the vast majority involve gasoline-powered vehicles.<\/p>\n

In comparison, incidents involving EVs are much less frequent, even though each one often receives much more media coverage.<\/p>\n

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WHY DO ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRES MAKE MORE NOISE?<\/h2>\n

Electric vehicle fires make headlines, partly because they are still perceived as new or \u201ctechnological,\u201d which naturally attracts curiosity. The public is asking questions, and rightly so: Are lithium-ion batteries safe? Can they explode? Are there any warning signs?<\/p>\n

It is true that when a fire occurs in an electric vehicle, the response can be more complex for emergency services. This is due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries, which can undergo thermal runaway. This rare and spectacular phenomenon causes a chain reaction that generates intense heat that is difficult to control. This can happen in the event of a violent impact, overheating, or a manufacturing defect. However, these cases are extremely rare compared to the total number of vehicles on the road.<\/p>\n

In the event of a fire, the battery can continue to burn from the inside even after being sprayed with water, sometimes requiring hours of cooling or even complete immersion of the vehicle in a pool of water. Although these situations are rare, they explain why EV fires, although less frequent, can be longer and more complex to control.<\/p>\n

In addition, safety standards are rigorous. Manufacturers invest heavily in research, stress testing, and automatic shut-off devices to prevent problems from becoming dangerous.<\/p>\n

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WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE KONA ELECTRIC?<\/h2>\n

The case of the 2023 Kona Electric in Sherbrooke that\u00a0caught fire while stationary<\/a>\u00a0remains under investigation, but it should be noted that Hyundai had already issued a recall in the past for certain earlier models due to a fire risk related to the battery.<\/p>\n

That said, newer models, such as the 2023, use next-generation batteries and are supposed to be safer. An incident like this deserves attention, but it does not mean that all Konas\u2014or all EVs\u2014pose an increased risk of fire.<\/p>\n

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STATISTICALLY, ARE EVs MORE AT RISK?<\/h2>\n

The short answer: no.<\/p>\n

A study by\u00a0AutoinsuranceEZ<\/a>, based on fire data in the United States, found that:<\/p>\n