E-cars and the false reports about their environmental impact

Electromobility has become increasingly important in recent years due to the need for sustainable transport solutions. However, along with this development, various myths and misinformation surrounding electric cars have also developed. Particularly noteworthy are the allegations about the alleged fire risk and the negative environmental impact of these vehicles. In this article we would like to counter these claims with a fact check and show the true picture of electromobility.

Is the risk of fire actually higher with electric cars?

Social media is full of horror stories about electric cars allegedly bursting into flames. Headlines like “Green kills: Now the Wadden Sea is threatened with a catastrophe due to the electric vehicle fire on the freighter” and “ Nightmare electric car: Now they are already burning during transport ” are doing the rounds. These headlines refer to an incident in the North Sea in which a freighter that was also carrying electric cars burned.

Screenshot: False reports about electric cars and their environmental impact — Screenshot

The alarming headlines suggest that an electric vehicle started the fire and therefore poses a significant safety risk. However, this representation is misleading and premature as, according to the Dutch Coast Guard, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been clarified. So it is by no means certain that one of the electric vehicles on board is responsible for the fire.

According to the Dutch Coast Guard website, the cause of the fire is still unknown.

The direct attribution of the fire to one of the electric cars being transported shows how quickly conclusions are drawn without waiting for facts and evidence. This contributes to an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear, which in turn can undermine acceptance and trust in electric mobility.

Misinformation about the alleged fire susceptibility of electric vehicles often circulates. An example is a video circulating on social media showing a vehicle exploding on a highway. Although it suggests that the car is an electric vehicle, we revealed at the time that it is actually a truck loaded with gas cylinders. ( Fact Check ) Another misleading video shows a gas tank exploding at a gas station despite falsely claiming it was an electric car. ( For fact check )

The research says otherwise. Patrick Plötz, head of the energy industry division at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, confirms that there is no evidence that electric cars catch fire more often than conventional combustion engines. In fact, the likelihood of an electric car catching fire is significantly lower than conventional vehicles.

claim	Fact check
E-cars burn more often than conventional vehicles	Incorrect . According to insurance companies and testing companies, electric cars burn less often than combustion engines.

What is the carbon footprint of electric cars?

Another widespread myth is the claim that the carbon footprint of electric cars is hardly better than that of conventional combustion engines. This claim is also false.

Older studies on this topic are very outdated. With the further development of battery technology and the increasing share of renewable energies in the electricity mix, the CO₂ balance of electric cars has improved significantly. Studies that do not take these improvements into account distort the overall picture.

claim	Fact check
The CO₂ balance of electric cars is hardly better than that of combustion engines	Incorrect . The CO₂ balance of electric cars has improved significantly over time and is generally better than that of combustion engines.

What about the raw material consumption of electric cars?

The discussion about the environmental impact of electric cars would not be complete without reference to the consumption of raw materials, especially in battery production. However, here too there are often misunderstandings and exaggerations.

The extraction of raw materials for batteries is certainly not without its problems, but it is often presented disproportionately, especially in comparison to other industries. For example, the high water consumption in beef production is rarely discussed. The situation is similar with cobalt extraction , which is often only discussed in the context of electric cars, although it is also widespread in other industries.

claim	Fact check
The raw material consumption of electric cars is disproportionately high	Incorrect . Obtaining the raw materials for battery production is certainly a problem, but it is often blown out of proportion.

Many people are concerned about whether electric or hybrid cars are particularly at risk of fire

A survey showed that 35 percent of respondents rated electric cars as the most fire-prone, while only 10 percent viewed gasoline vehicles and 4 percent viewed diesel vehicles as dangerous. Hybrid and hydrogen cars were mentioned least often. However, experts agree that electric cars are no more risky than conventional cars in so-called follow-up fires after accidents because they meet the same safety standards.

According to the Association of German Insurers (GDV), accident researchers from DEKRA and experts from Allianz, there is no increased risk of fire in electric cars. Current electric cars and modern vehicles with combustion engines have roughly the same fire load because both contain a lot of plastic.

All road-legal vehicles must offer a high level of active and passive safety. Therefore, electric cars and hybrids are equipped with the latest safety technology, including airbags and emergency braking systems. The battery packs are securely mounted in the floor of the car, sealed watertight and additionally reinforced. In the event of an accident, the car automatically cuts off the power flow to ensure safety.

A study by US insurer AutoinsuranceEZ found that only 25 out of 100,000 insured electric cars catch fire, compared to 1,530 out of 100,000 internal combustion engine vehicles. Surprisingly, 3,474 out of 100,000 plug-in hybrid cars burned. In Germany, around 15,000 of around 50 million conventionally powered vehicles burn every year.

Claims	Fact check
Electric cars burn more often than combustion engine vehicles.	False : According to data from US insurer AutoinsuranceEZ and German insurers (GDV), electric cars do not burn more often than combustion engine vehicles. In fact, only 25 out of 100,000 insured electric cars burn, while 1,530 out of 100,000 combustion engine vehicles burn.
Electric cars and hybrid models pose a particular danger.	Wrong : Experts agree that electrified vehicles are no more dangerous in the event of fires following an accident than vehicles with combustion engines. They meet the same security standards.
Electric car batteries are particularly susceptible to fire.	Wrong : Electric cars and hybrids are equipped with the latest safety technology. The battery packs are securely mounted in the floor of the car, sealed watertight and additionally reinforced. In the event of an accident, the flow of electricity is automatically interrupted.
An accident with an electric car can result in an electric shock.	Wrong : Electric cars are designed to be intrinsically safe. This means that the flow of electricity is immediately interrupted in the event of a defect. If an electric car's sensors register a crash, the connection between the battery and other high-voltage components is automatically disconnected. Therefore, the fear of electric shock is unfounded.
Plug-in hybrids are less susceptible to fire than other vehicles.	False : In fact, one study found that 3,474 out of 100,000 plug-in hybrids burst into flames, which is higher than the fire rate for electric cars or internal combustion engine vehicles.

Conclusion

Many people are convinced that electric cars are dangerous and can easily catch fire, but this is often not the case. Sometimes videos of burning cars are shown online and people claim that they are electric cars. But that is often wrong. Some of these cars are trucks with gas bottles and not electric cars.

Research also shows that electric cars are no more likely to catch fire than cars that run on gasoline or diesel. In fact, electric cars are much less likely to catch fire. Some people also claim that electric cars are no better for the environment than cars that run on gasoline or diesel. But that's not true either. Electric cars produce much less CO₂.

It's true that electric car batteries are made from materials that are difficult to source and sometimes obtained in unsustainable ways. But these materials are also used for many other things, not just electric cars. And compared to other cars, electric cars are still the most environmentally friendly.

Electric cars are not perfect, but they are safer and more environmentally friendly than many people think. It is important that we have the right information about them so we can make the best decisions for our future.

Is the risk of fire actually higher with electric cars?

What is the carbon footprint of electric cars?

What about the raw material consumption of electric cars?

Many people are concerned about whether electric or hybrid cars are particularly at risk of fire

Conclusion

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