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Can electric cars explode?
I want to buy an electric car, but I’m concerned. Since they rely on battery charging, can electric cars catch fire and ignite?
Lisa Steuer McArdle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s understandable you would be concerned, but we are here to reassure you. The simple answer is, yes electric cars can explode. However it is important to point out that
electric vehicles
are no more likely to explode or catch fire
than any other type of vehicle.Electric cars have cooling systems in place meant to prevent fire or explosion. But high temperatures, a crash or overcharging can cause electric car batteries to ignite.
The issue is that if electric vehicles do catch fire, they are often harder to extinguish. Electric cars use lithium-ion batteries, which can burn for hours. Using a little bit of water to try to extinguish a fire with a lithium-ion battery may make the problem worse. Often, lots of water is needed to put out the fire, or even powdered graphite.
Since electric cars are still an emerging market, many fire departments aren’t properly trained in electric vehicle fires. Tesla released a guide to first responders in an attempt to help with this issue.
If you’re worried about protecting your car from potential damage, make sure you have affordable and adequate car insurance.
Jerry
can help. The app compares quotes from more than 50 insurance companies for you in under a minute, without any long forms to fill out. View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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