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What Causes Fire Accidents in Electric Vehicles?

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Electric vehicles are very popular in India, especially electric two-wheelers. Sadly though, there are some very disturbing reports about e-bikes catching fire regularly. This leads to severe losses and many subsequent two wheeler insurance claims. If you have an e-bike, do not get worried about these reports. There are some easy ways in which you can prevent such fires.

Let’s find out more in the article below.

Why do electric vehicles catch fire?

There are some very logical reasons why we see so many EVs catching fire these days. Some of them are:

1. Faulty manufacturing

One of the biggest reasons why vehicles catch fire is a flaw in manufacturing. These days, many companies are launching e-bikes and offering all kinds of deals on them. The internal components and parts used to make these vehicles are cheap and of substandard quality. As a result, they begin to fail as soon as the bike starts revving up.

A combination of internal failures and faults leads to problems, including serious fires from catching on. While the large and significant parts, such as the engine and the battery pack are important, the smaller parts like the nuts and bolts are equally crucial too. Sadly, the manufacturers do not take this seriously and that results in such mishaps.

2. Excessive heating

Excessive heating is the primary reason why an EV catches fire. The battery of the EV heats up and when the heat combines with leaked fuel, the battery just explodes in flames. And since the weather conditions are usually hot in India, we see such fire incidents commonly. A good way to solve this problem is to avoid your EV’s battery from heating up excessively.

3. Rough handling

And last but not the least, an EV that is very roughly handled would fail soon. If you do not clean the bike, dirt and grease will settle on the internal parts and this can trigger a fire. If you do not service the bike on time, there may be internal faults that would go on unnoticed. This would lead to a fire in the future. Also, when you drive your EV roughly, you increase the chance of a fire. If you over speed, hit the brakes repeatedly or engage the clutch excessively, the heat will build up and your vehicle may catch fire.

Though EVs catch fire, they actually are safer than regular vehicles as the chance of such accidents is lower.

How to avoid EV battery fire?

There are some effective ways in which you can avoid your EV battery from igniting. Here are some tips:

1. Invest in a good vehicle

This is the best way in which you can avoid your vehicle catching fire. As mentioned above, there are many players in the EV market these days and in an attempt to stay ahead of the competition, some of them are skipping the safety protocols and launching products with popper research and testing.

Also, some manufacturers are offering vehicles at much lower costs. Use your discretion when choosing your EV and get a good one from a good and reputed motor manufacturer. Do not buy the car or bike purely based on the price, as the cheapest option is seldom the best option.

2. Charge appropriately

Next, you must remember to charge the vehicle appropriately. One of the main reasons for an EV fire is an overheated battery back. To prevent this, try the following:

● Charge the battery up to the 80% mark only. When the battery is charged too much, it gets very heated. Avoid charging it fully every single time and you will be able to control the heat in the pack.

● Do not let it completely discharge. Charge it back up as soon as your battery reaches 20 power. This would help it to function well and last for a longer time as well.

● Charge at night when the outside temperature is low. Therefore, the external weather conditions won't add to the already-heated battery and it will be helpful for your vehicle.

● Park your car in the shade, as that prevents the heat from increasing inside the car and its battery pack.

3. Drive at a consistent speed

When you drive very roughly, with constant acceleration and braking, there is a lot of stress on the battery. It heats up a lot and this can create sparks. Apart from the smoke rising out of the engine, a lot of sparks and heat can also trigger a fire. So, to keep the vehicle safe, drive at constant speeds.

4. Service it regularly

Service your bike regularly to ensure there are no internal faults. If there is something minor, the mechanic can spot it early on and prevent it from escalating into a major problem and causing a fire accident. A lot of accidents happen because people ignore the minor problems and leave them to explode into serious issues.

Once you follow these simple guidelines, your electric bike will stay safe and you won't have to worry about too many fire incidents taking place. If however, you notice any fault or unusual activity, take the bike to the nearest garage and have it checked. If needed, use your two wheeler insurance cover and get the problem resolved properly.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why an EV catches fire. If you are aware of these reasons, you can take cognizance of them and prevent fire accidents. Cover your vehicle with two wheeler insurance plan and keep it secured. Also remember that the third party bike insurance coverage will only provide coverage for damages to third-party persons or property. To secure losses of your vehicle, you must consider a standalone damage cover or comprehensive cover.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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