Australia's EV Revolution is Underway

Electric vehicles are no longer a novelty on Australian roads — they're rapidly becoming the norm. In the first half of 2025 alone, 72,758 EVs were sold across Australia, representing a 24.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. EVs now account for 12.1% of all new car sales nationally, with some months pushing close to 16% market share.

The range of available models has grown to 153 options (94 battery-electric vehicles and 59 plug-in hybrids), and public fast-charging infrastructure has expanded to 1,272 locations nationwide. It's clear the transition is well and truly underway — and with it comes a responsibility to be properly informed and prepared.

The Real Picture on EV Fire Risk

One of the most persistent misconceptions about electric vehicles is that they are prone to catching fire. The data tells a different story. Research published by Australia's Vehicle Emissions Star Rating program confirms that EV passenger vehicles carry just a 0.0012% chance of catching fire — compared to 0.1% for petrol and diesel vehicles. That's roughly 80 times lower.

As of early 2025, only 10 EV battery fires have been verified in Australia during normal vehicle use. Of those, 4 resulted from major collision damage, 5 were caused by exposure to an external fire (including house fires and arson), and only 1 occurred while the vehicle was connected to a charger. This data firmly dispels the narrative that EVs spontaneously combust or are uniquely dangerous to charge.

Globally, comparable findings have emerged. A widely cited Swedish civil contingencies analysis found that petrol vehicle fires occurred roughly 20 times more frequently than EV fires per vehicle sold. And in 2025 Polish data, EVs accounted for just 0.17% of all vehicle fires, while internal combustion engine vehicles represented the overwhelming remainder.

EVs also perform exceptionally well in crash safety assessments. As of 2025, nine out of ten EVs on sale in Australia carry an ANCAP five-star safety rating, and Euro NCAP results consistently show EVs outperforming petrol vehicles in collision safety.

Understanding Thermal Runaway

While EV fires are rare, the nature of lithium-ion battery fires is genuinely different from conventional vehicle fires — and that difference matters when it comes to emergency preparedness.

The key process to understand is thermal runaway. This occurs when damage or a fault causes a single battery cell to overheat. Unable to cool down, it triggers a chain reaction that spreads to neighbouring cells. The result is an intense, self-sustaining fire that can reach temperatures exceeding 1,000°C — far hotter than a conventional vehicle fire — and may produce clouds of dark vapour, loud hissing or popping sounds, and directional jet-like flames.

Critically, a damaged EV battery can reignite hours, days, or even weeks after the initial incident. This is why Fire and Rescue NSW advises that any EV involved in a collision, flood, or fire should be stored in an open area at least 15 metres from other vehicles and structures, and the manufacturer or dealer should be contacted for guidance before the vehicle is moved or worked on.

The E-Bike and E-Scooter Picture is Different

It is important to distinguish between road-registered electric vehicles and micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters. Road-registered EVs are subject to strict Australian Design Rules (ADR 109/00), which set high standards for battery safety, testing, and construction. Micromobility devices are not held to the same standards.

Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are significantly more common than EV car fires. They are frequently caused by poor-quality battery cells, faulty or incompatible chargers, and modified or counterfeit products. The Electric Vehicle Council's 2025 submission to Australia's Energy Safety Review highlighted this distinction clearly, emphasising that micromobility fire incidents must be addressed separately — and that they should not be used to distort the safety record of road-registered EVs.

For e-bike and e-scooter owners, the core advice is clear: purchase products that meet Australian standards, use only manufacturer-approved or RCM-marked chargers, and never charge near flammable materials or leave devices unattended while charging overnight.

Safe Charging Practices for All EV Owners

Charging safety applies across the board, whether you drive a full battery-electric car or ride an electric scooter. Following a few straightforward practices dramatically reduces risk:

What to Do in an EV Emergency

If you observe signs of thermal runaway in your EV or a nearby vehicle, the steps are clear. Fire and Rescue NSW recommends evacuating immediately, keeping at least 30 metres from the vehicle, and calling Triple Zero (000) — informing the operator that an electric vehicle is involved. Providing the make and model of the vehicle helps emergency services access vehicle-specific response information quickly.

One important detail many EV owners overlook: ensure your vehicle displays the blue triangle "EV" sticker or badge on its number plate. Required for all EVs manufactured after 1 January 2019, this badge alerts emergency responders to the presence of a high-voltage battery system before they approach the scene.

Australian Innovation Leading the Way

Australia isn't just responding to the EV safety challenge — it's helping to solve it. In 2025, Australian-designed and manufactured fire suppression system EV FirePro completed independent validation testing at Applus+ Laboratories in Spain, confirming its ability to contain EV battery fires in parking environments. During testing, no fire spread to adjacent vehicles, surrounding temperatures stayed below 60°C, and heat flux remained low enough to prevent ignition of nearby materials.

Separately, Austroads published its landmark Incident Response for Low and Zero Emission Vehicles report on 4 December 2025 — the first comprehensive guidance of its kind for Australia and New Zealand. Drawing on international case studies and stakeholder consultation, it established a five-stage EV Incident Response Framework tailored to real-world road network conditions. This report marks a significant step in preparing emergency responders, fleet managers, and infrastructure operators for a future with many more EVs on Australian roads.

Specialist Equipment: Being Prepared Makes the Difference

Standard fire extinguishers are not designed for lithium-ion battery fires. Conventional dry powder or CO₂ extinguishers can suppress visible flames temporarily but cannot penetrate and cool the battery cells where thermal runaway originates. This means the fire can, and often will, reignite.

Specialist EV fire extinguishers use agents specifically formulated to cool lithium-ion cells and interrupt the thermal runaway process. EV fire blankets work by containment — smothering the fire, restricting oxygen, and allowing the battery to cool in a controlled way. Lithium-ion containment bags provide an additional layer of protection for smaller devices, allowing batteries to be safely isolated after an incident.

With projections suggesting Australia could have one million EVs on the road by 2028, having the right equipment on hand — at home, in the garage, in your business fleet, or in your building — is simply sensible preparation. It's the same logic that drives smoke alarm installation: not because disaster is likely, but because being ready costs far less than being caught unprepared.