Why Every EV Owner in Australia Needs a Dedicated Fire Safety Kit
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Lithium-ion battery fires aren't like regular fires. Here's why the right equipment could save your life — and your property.
Australia's electric vehicle market is accelerating. With over 200,000 EVs now on the road and new models arriving every month, there's never been a more exciting time to go electric. But alongside the benefits of zero tailpipe emissions and lower running costs comes a safety consideration that most new EV owners haven't thought about: what happens if the battery catches fire?
The short answer? Lithium-ion battery fires are nothing like petrol fires. They're hotter, harder to control, and far more dangerous without the right equipment. The good news is that being prepared is simple, if you know what to look for.
The Problem with Lithium-Ion Battery Fires
When a lithium-ion battery enters "thermal runaway," it triggers a chain reaction that can reach extreme temperatures in seconds. Unlike a conventional fuel fire that you might smother or starve of oxygen, a battery fire generates its own oxygen internally. That means traditional methods, throwing a blanket over it, using a standard ABC extinguisher, often won't work. In some cases, they can make things worse.
These fires can also reignite hours, or even days, after they appear to be extinguished. Toxic gases including hydrogen fluoride are released, making the air around the vehicle immediately hazardous. It's a scenario that demands purpose-built safety equipment, not improvised solutions.
While EV fires are statistically rarer than petrol car fires, they are significantly more intense and harder to control when they do occur. Preparation is the critical difference.
What You Actually Need: Two-Layer Protection
Fire safety experts recommend a two-pronged approach for EV fire readiness: an active suppression tool (a specialised extinguisher) paired with a passive containment layer (a fire blanket rated for extreme heat). Each serves a different but complementary purpose.
Formulated specifically for lithium-ion battery fires. Rapidly cools the battery pack and interrupts the thermal runaway cycle — something standard extinguishers simply cannot do.
Rated to withstand temperatures up to 1,600°C, a high-silica containment blanket smothers and isolates the fire, buying critical time until emergency services arrive.
Used together, you get immediate knockdown power from the extinguisher and sustained containment from the blanket. It's the same dual-layer strategy that professional fire services employ when responding to EV incidents — adapted for everyday use by vehicle owners, fleet operators, and commercial facilities.
Who Should Have an EV Fire Safety Kit?
If you fall into any of these categories, a dedicated fire safety bundle isn't optional, it's essential.
- EV owners who charge at home, especially in an attached garage
- Fleet operators transitioning to electric vehicles
- Workshops & service centres working on EVs or hybrids
- Car dealerships with electric vehicle stock on premises
- Strata & building managers with EV charging in underground car parks
- E-bike and e-scooter owners charging lithium-ion batteries indoors
For commercial operators in particular, insurers are increasingly flagging EV-specific fire safety equipment as a compliance requirement. Having the right gear isn't just smart, it could directly impact your premiums and liability exposure.
What to Look For in Quality EV Fire Equipment
The Extinguisher
A quality EV fire extinguisher should be specifically formulated for lithium-ion battery chemistry, not just relabelled from a standard product line. Look for a 4L capacity as the sweet spot between portability and genuine suppression power for passenger vehicles. The agent should cool the battery pack rapidly while being safe for use on electrical fires.
The Blanket
Not all fire blankets are created equal. For EV applications, you need a heavy-duty, high-silica blanket tested to recognised standards like EN 13501. The 5m × 5m size is ideal for covering a full passenger vehicle. At approximately 15kg, it's substantial enough to contain a serious fire while still being deployable by one or two people in under 90 seconds.
Always call 000 immediately. This equipment is designed to contain and control the fire until professional responders arrive — not to replace them.
Our Recommendation: The EV Fire Safety Bundle
We've paired our 4L Specialised EV Fire Extinguisher with our Heavy-Duty 5m × 5m High-Silica Fire Blanket into a single bundle that gives you complete two-layer protection at a significant saving over buying each item separately.
This combination is purpose-built for lithium-ion battery fire scenarios from garage charging setups to commercial workshop environments. It's the same calibre of equipment recommended for professional EV service facilities, packaged for anyone who wants genuine peace of mind.
EV Fire Safety Bundle
4L EV Fire Extinguisher + Heavy-Duty Battery Blanket
SAVE $896
Taxes included • Shipping calculated at checkout
Be Prepared, Not Reactive
The beauty of EV ownership is the technology. The responsibility of EV ownership is understanding that technology comes with new safety requirements. Lithium-ion fires are rare, but when they happen, having the right equipment within arm's reach can be the difference between a contained incident and a catastrophic loss.
Don't wait for a close call. Invest in proper EV fire safety today.
Have questions about which fire safety solution is right for your setup?