Ho Chi Minh City police comment on the electric vehicle battery fire incident.

(NLĐO) - Extinguishing fires involving electric vehicle batteries is very difficult, and the Ho Chi Minh City Police are advising people to use them safely and minimize the risk of fire and explosion.

At a press conference providing information on socio -economic issues in Ho Chi Minh City held on the afternoon of November 13, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tung, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (PC07) of the Ho Chi Minh City Police, shared further information about the numerous fire and explosion incidents related to electric vehicle batteries that have occurred recently.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tung, Deputy Head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (PC07) of the Ho Chi Minh City Police, provided this information at the press conference.

According to Mr. Tung, lithium-ion batteries (or simply li-ion batteries) are a type of battery that uses lithium as its electrode material. These batteries typically have a higher energy density than other types of batteries, making them a widely popular choice to replace lead-acid batteries.

In practice, car battery temperature can increase due to manufacturing defects, external temperature impacts, mechanical collisions, accidents, etc.

When a battery malfunctions, some substances will decompose or react with each other, ultimately leading to heat dissipation and combustion of the gas mixture released from the decomposition of the electrolyte and oxygen.

In electric vehicle design, the battery is typically housed in a sealed compartment, often under the vehicle's chassis, and is protected by multiple layers of security.

Therefore, when an electric vehicle battery catches fire, it is difficult to directly access the battery to organize firefighting efforts, leading to the deployment of water sprays directly onto the battery pack to cool it down, prevent the fire from spreading, and extinguish the blaze not being highly effective.

Mr. Tung stated that from October 10, 2024 to October 5, 2025, there were 41 fires in the city related to electrical vehicles.

Ho Chi Minh City police comment on the electric vehicle battery fire incident.

In practice, firefighting for vehicles using Li-ion batteries remains challenging. Traditional firefighting methods such as using water, powder, CO₂ gas, foam, etc., are ineffective against this type of battery due to its smoldering nature, high heat generation, and the potential for re-ignition after being extinguished.

When the Fire and Rescue Police received information about the fire and arrived at the scene, they only determined that it was an electric vehicle fire, but could not pinpoint the exact type of battery installed on the vehicle.

The inability to determine the technical characteristics of the battery makes it difficult to select appropriate tactics, measures, and extinguishing agents, leading to ineffective fire suppression.

Another difficulty is that for Li-ion batteries, there are approximately 7 Vietnamese National Standards (TCVN) specifying technical requirements, safety requirements, and testing methods for Li-ion batteries installed in electric bicycles, motorcycles, and cars.

However, there are currently no complete and unified standards, regulations, or guidelines for fire safety, fire prevention, and rescue specifically applicable to electric vehicle batteries, electric vehicles, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Therefore, PC07 recommends that when using electric vehicles to ensure fire safety, both the electric vehicles and the electrical systems in houses and apartment buildings should be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they function properly and without problems.

Inspect the battery, charging system, and other components of the electric vehicle to detect early signs of damage or wear.

Use genuine charging equipment and ensure it meets safety standards. Do not use aftermarket (OEM) battery packs to replace the battery pack in your vehicle. Keep electric vehicles in a cool, well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight to minimize the risk of fire or explosion from the battery.

"We should also avoid leaving chargers plugged in for days on end or charging overnight without supervision. Many people do this for convenience to fully charge their batteries for the next day, but it poses a risk of fire or explosion if the charger malfunctions, leading to overvoltage on the battery," Mr. Tung said.

In addition, the fire fighting and rescue forces are researching and testing fire extinguishing agents; specialized fire fighting equipment and vehicles suitable for the flammability and explosiveness of Li-ion batteries.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cong-an-tp-hcm-noi-ve-su-co-chay-pin-xe-dien-196251113171405228.htm