On May 10th, the issue of new energy vehicles catching fire after collisions has always been a top concern for users.
Zhang Hong, a member of the Expert Committee of the China Automobile Circulation Association, mentioned in an interview with reporters that issues such as fires and spontaneous combustion after collisions do exist in new energy vehicles equipped with lithium batteries.
"Moreover, fires in new energy vehicles are more difficult to extinguish, posing higher risks. This must be given high attention and vigilance by all parties involved in research, manufacturing, sales, and usage," Zhang Hong stated.
Academician Ouyang Minggao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences previously stated that data from the National Fire and Rescue Bureau showed that in the first quarter of 2023, there were 18,360 fuel vehicles and 640 new energy vehicles that caught fire spontaneously.
In terms of fire incidence, dividing the 18,360 fuel vehicles by the total number of fuel vehicles, which is 317.71 million, gives a rate of 0.58 per ten thousand.
For the 640 new energy vehicles divided by the total number of new energy vehicles, which is 14.452 million, the rate is 0.44 per ten thousand, slightly lower for new energy vehicles.
According to Ouyang Minggao, with the emergence of all-solid-state batteries, the self-ignition rate of electric vehicles will be even lower.
In response, Yang Xueliang, Senior Vice President of Geely, has previously expressed that it doesn't feel that way. The base is different, the years are different, the reasons for fires are different, so one cannot simply draw this conclusion. There should be organizations that can conduct long-term comparisons and testing.
