UL Research Institutes releases EV fire safety report after 18 vehicle burns

The UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute completed 18 full‑scale electric‑vehicle fire experiments to develop guidance for firefighters. Nine vehicles were burned without suppression to establish a baseline, and nine were subjected to common tactics—water alone, EV‑specific fire blankets, and water with an added suppression agent—after a six‑minute growth period that mirrors typical North American response times.

The study found that EV fires behave similarly to gasoline‑vehicle fires in growth rate, peak size and duration, though they release slightly more total energy due to vehicle mass. Water remains effective for suppressing cabin flames while the battery burns itself out, but no tactic halted thermal runaway. Fire blankets can control external flames but may create explosion hazards from trapped gases, and the added suppression agent offered no advantage over water. Researchers also produced an EV Fire Tactical Decision Aid for incident commanders. Principal research engineer Adam Barowy said the findings reassure first responders that familiar tools and protective equipment are adequate for the growing fleet of battery‑powered vehicles.