A large fire broke out on a cargo ship carrying 3,784 new cars off the coast of the Netherlands last month. The fire caused the ship to sink and one crew member to die. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but some have speculated that it was caused by an electric car.
Electric Cars Are Less Likely to Catch Fire
There is no evidence to support the claim that an electric car caused the fire. In fact, electric cars are much less likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered cars. According to data from the Swedish civil contingencies agency, electric cars are 20 times less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel cars.
Why Are Electric Cars Less Likely to Catch Fire?
There are a few reasons why electric cars are less likely to catch fire. First, electric car batteries are made of lithium-ion batteries, which are less flammable than gasoline. Second, electric car batteries are designed to be more resistant to damage. Third, electric cars have fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars, which means there are fewer things that can go wrong.
The Risks of Transporting Electric Cars
While electric cars are less likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered cars, there are still some risks associated with transporting them by ship. These risks include:
- The batteries can overheat if they are not properly ventilated.
- The batteries can be damaged if they are dropped or crushed.
- The batteries can release toxic fumes if they catch fire.
Conclusion
The media has been quick to blame electric cars for the recent ship fires, but there is no evidence to support these claims. In fact, electric cars are actually much less likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered cars. The real danger comes from transporting gasoline-powered cars by ship.