There have been many electric vehicle fires recently. Do you still charge them this way?

recently

Several fires caused by electric vehicles have attracted attention

A fire broke out on the 23rd floor of a high-rise building in Guangzhou, Guangdong

Three incidents occurred in Suzhou, Jiangsu within 5 hours overnight.

Electric vehicle fires sound another alarm

Guangzhou, Guangdong: Electric vehicle battery catches fire while charging

December 29, 2021

A fire broke out in a high-rise rental house in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Thick smoke billowed from the scene

The scene was in a mess

And found the burned electric vehicle battery

After investigation

The fire was caused by the electric bicycle being charged.

A short circuit ignites surrounding combustibles

Kunshan, Jiangsu: Three electric vehicle fires occurred overnight!

From the evening of January 6 to the early morning of January 7

Within 5 hours

Kunshan City, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Three electric vehicle fires occurred in succession

January 6, 21:07

An electric bicycle caught fire on the south side of a residential area on Aihua Road in Kunshan City, spreading to another one. Eventually, one was completely burned and the other was partially melted. There were no casualties at the scene.

January 6, 22:23

An electric bicycle caught fire at the northeast gate of a residential area on Xianghua Road, Lujia Town, Kunshan City. The fire spread to the entire electric bicycle shed, and the scene was full of flames. A total of 20 electric bicycles were burned in the fire, and no casualties were reported.

January 7, 02:05

An electric bicycle caught fire in an underground garage in a community on Changjiang Road in Kunshan City. The fire area was about 15 square meters, and 8 electric bicycles were burned. There were no casualties.

Popular Science Extension

Electric vehicle fire accidents occur frequently

How should we avoid it?

Please check the Electric Vehicle Fire Prevention and Self-rescue Guide

Fire hazards of electric vehicles

The hazards of electric vehicle fires are mainly high temperatures and toxic smoke. The fire department has conducted experiments on fires caused by charging electric vehicles. The experimental data shows that within 30 seconds of the electric vehicle catching fire, the toxic smoke can cover the entire room and corridor, and the large amount of toxic smoke produced is very likely to cause casualties.

Why are electric cars prone to fire?

Overcharging

Generally speaking, charging an electric car for about 8 hours can meet the needs of users. Charging for too long will cause the battery to heat up, swell, and even cause the battery to explode.

Line aging

If an electric vehicle is used for too long, the connection lines in the vehicle are prone to aging and loosening, resulting in leakage, poor contact or short circuit. If the vehicle's wires fail, the high temperature generated can easily ignite the vehicle's saddle and decorative plastic parts.

Improper use of charger

Many families have more than one electric car, and using charging equipment for different brands of electric cars will also damage the battery. The charger is a consumable item with a short life span and needs to be replaced in time. When replacing, pay attention to matching the battery model.

Why is it easy to cause casualties?

More than half of electric vehicle fires occur during charging at night. To save trouble, many owners often leave their electric vehicles in the corridor or living room to charge all night before going to bed. The period from early morning to dawn is often when people are soundly asleep. Once a fire occurs, it is difficult to discover it in time, and there may even be no time to escape.

How to prevent electric vehicle fires

Keep away from flammable and explosive items

When charging an electric vehicle, do not charge it in the living room, stairwell, or hallway. When charging it in other places, carefully check and clear away flammable and combustible items piled nearby to prevent the electric vehicle from igniting nearby items and causing a larger fire.

Do not modify electric vehicles at will

The lifespan of an electric car is generally 3 to 4 years. If it is used beyond its expiration date, the electrical circuits and batteries will age and malfunction. If audio, lighting or batteries are added, it will easily cause circuit overload and cause a fire.

Strengthen daily self-examination and self-inspection

In daily use, strengthen the inspection of the electric vehicle's lines, electrical components, etc. to prevent sparks and heat caused by poor contact, and avoid faults such as leakage, poor contact or short circuit caused by aging and wear of the lines.

How to save yourself in case of fire

1. If you find that there is no smoke or fire spreading in the stairwell and the stairs are unobstructed, you should first choose to escape outdoors along the stairs.

2. If there is a lot of smoke or fire in the stairwell or it is blocked, do not escape along the stairs. Go to the balcony to call for help and wait for rescue.

3. When leaving the room and finding that the fire is on this floor, you should run to a known safe evacuation exit as soon as possible. After passing through the fire door, you should close it in time. If the corridor is blocked or surrounded by smoke, you should return to the room to call the police and wait for rescue.

Source: Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Emergency Management, China Emergency Management, National Emergency Broadcasting