What if we lived in a world where it was impossible for a vehicle to catch fire? Some EV batteries are designed to be completely non-flammable, making it nearly impossible for a fire to start in the battery. We are getting closer and closer to this world every day as scientific breakthroughs make EVs even safer.
While research broadly suggests that EVs are less likely to catch fire than gas vehicles, not all batteries are created equal. EV fires are rare, but some battery chemistries are less prone to catching fire than others. We’ll take a look at why they differ and what future battery innovations hold in store.
EVs improve lives in so many ways – through cost savings, reduction in air pollution, advanced safety features, and overall driving experience. In terms of fire risk, researchers have concluded that EVs are less likely to catch fire than gas vehicles, as detailed in our previous article on EV fire safety.
The National Fire Protection Association says that “compared to internal combustion engine fires – which on average occur every 2 to 3 minutes in the United States – there are fewer electric vehicle fires.” The Australian research agency EV FireSafe states that “electric vehicles are less likely to catch fire than internal combustion engine vehicles.”
EV drivers are confident in the safety of their vehicles. As reported in our recently released 2026 Annual EV Driver Survey, 96.8% of EV drivers feel safe driving their EV. Supporting this point, the GEVA 2025 Global EV Driver Survey found that 88% of EV drivers worldwide are not concerned that their EV could pose a fire hazard.
While EV batteries are intentionally designed to be safe through active cooling systems, internal fire barriers, durable external protective shells, and smart monitoring software, battery chemistry can affect the battery’s natural thermal stability. Here are the leading current and emerging battery chemistries and how they can incorporate safety by design.
Lithium-ion batteries: Nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
In our previous article on EV fire safety, we discussed how a fire can start in a conventional lithium-ion battery. This process, called thermal runaway, is triggered by physical damage to a cell or by electrical problems that lead to overcharging. Overcharging occurs very rarely when a vehicle or charger has an electrical fault, as EVs and chargers have built-in safety features to prevent overcharging. Similar to your cell phone, which you safely leave plugged in overnight, the battery automatically stops charging when it is full. In a thermal runaway event, the cell short-circuits, generating more heat that spreads to other cells, leading to a self-sustaining chemical reaction. The battery cells can ignite one by one. This reaction occurs because lithium-ion batteries contain volatile electrolytes that can release flammable gases when damaged.
Two common types of lithium-ion batteries are nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Although both battery types can undergo thermal runaway and catch fire in rare cases, LFP batteries may be less likely to catch fire due to their chemical structure.
According to Anern, a battery storage company, LFP batteries have strong phosphate-oxide bonds that hold oxygen atoms tightly within their structure. Fires need oxygen to burn, and in LFP batteries, oxygen is less likely to be released, restricting fuel to the fire. LFP batteries also have a higher temperature threshold for entering thermal runaway than NMC batteries, meaning a fire takes longer to develop, giving the vehicle and its passengers more time to notice that a battery is overheating before a fire starts. This extra warning time can allow for a quick response.
Sodium-ion batteries
Sodium-ion batteries are a newer type and are beginning to be rolled out in cars like the Changan Nevo A06 sedan and in battery storage. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a sodium-ion battery that “significantly reduces fire risks.” This battery contains a salt-based solid diluent in the electrolyte (a substance added to thin out the electrolyte), making the battery more stable due to its nonflammable solvent.
Another sodium-ion battery technology in development from Inlyte Energy uses iron powder, steel, aluminum oxide, and food-grade table salt. It’s impossible for this battery to catch fire because a single overheating cell cannot spread heat to neighboring cells.
Sodium-ion batteries are also less expensive to produce and retain their capacity well. Plus, sodium is readily available and more environmentally friendly than lithium as a battery material.
Solid-state batteries
Solid-state batteries are still in development and not widely available yet, but they promise significant improvements in safety, making fires nearly impossible. Since these batteries use solid electrolytes (as opposed to liquid ones in lithium-ion batteries), they have higher thermodynamic stability.
This leads researchers Yu et al. to claim that “it is not likely that a solid electrolyte will participate in a combustion reaction.” The solid-state battery will remain stable even at high temperatures and is resistant to abuse (such as crushing or puncture) due to the strength of its materials. Solid-state batteries produce little heat, which is likely to prevent thermal runaway.
Other strategies for battery safety
In their study, Yu et al. discuss several strategies for making EV batteries even safer. The first strategy includes improvements in the intrinsic safety of batteries, such as alternative battery chemistries. Improvements in production and manufacturing will also make batteries safer. The materials used to make batteries and coat them with protective layers can reduce thermal runaway in all battery types.
There are also passive strategies to keep batteries at a safe temperature at all times and reduce the risk of overheating. This can be achieved with air and water cooling, preheating the battery at low temperatures, and insulating cells to prevent thermal runaway from spreading, among other strategies. These strategies all reduce the risk of fire, and as technology advances, that risk will likely drop to nearly zero.
Today, electric vehicles are as safe as, or safer than, gas cars. They are less likely to catch fire and less likely to roll over. But battery technology is improving so rapidly that fire risks may soon become a thing of the past.
Technology across every aspect of vehicle safety – including battery design, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and firefighting techniques – is continually improving and evolving. This is not surprising for a vehicle that is innovating the transportation sector. New battery technology and a better understanding of battery chemistries and firefighting techniques will continue to reduce the already-low risk of EV fires.
It’s exciting to imagine the possibilities for improving vehicle safety that can bring peace of mind for all drivers. Keep an eye out for new EV models with different battery chemistries and features that continue to improve EV safety and reliability.
