The looming risks from electric vehicle fires have become a major claims issue and prompted talks between claims experts, brokers and insurers.

Speaking as brokers gathered in Manchester for the annual Biba conference Joe Noel managing director, Commercial Claims Services, Sedgwick told Emerging Risks that the threat has seen the company examine the risks that come with the increasing use of EVs.

“Electric vehicles have been seen as pretty safe since their introduction.” Noel explained. “However we have seen in flooding incidents that sea water is a cause for concern.

“The risks centres on if the vehicles catch fire. There are growing concerns around the acceleration of the fires and the spread.”

He added tests show that it can take as little as 90 seconds for a fire in an electric vehicle to reach what is described as ‘thermal runaway’ with fires  burning at temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees.

“The recommended safe distance gap between cars with internal combustion engines is 1.5 metres. The recommended safe distance between electric vehicles is five metres,” Noel continued. “It has created a situation where the current parking facilities were not designed with such a gap between vehicles, and they are not constructed to meet the needs of accommodating electric vehicles.”

He added alongside the threat of thermal runaway  electric vehicle fires also carry the risk of toxic vapour.

“Risk assessments need to be undertaken to ensures there are evacuation procedures in place. As  company we have bene looking at the risk scenarios around car parking risks we have considered the potential for a fire in a car park at a major shopping centre, with the fire spreading between EVs parked close to each other and the difficulties around evacuation, access for the fire services and the threat of toxic vapour.

“The intensity of the blaze may well also impact building stability  with the potential for building collapse.”

Noel added: “If you look at motorway service stations there is the potential for 20 to 30 EVs to be lined up alongside each other. If a fire breaks out and spreads you may well have the situation where the motorway itself would be required to close. Given battery fires have the potential to reignite when the have seemingly been extinguished it may see a major road closed for  a number of days while he parking area can be contained the vehicles removed.”

He added the scenario of a EV fire on a vehicle ferry could have catastrophic results.

“The risks are becoming recognised and we are seeing some parking facilities prohibiting EV parking and ferry operators are removing charging facilities and will only allow EVs onboard if they are in a low charge state as if the vehicle has a low charge, they are far less likely to see the batteries ignite.

“There is a lot to look at for underwriters. Is this an emerging risk? I would say that the risk is already here.

“We are talking to our clients around the risks and the proximity of vehicles. The topic will be heavily discussed in the conference, with brokers and underwriters while risk managers are increasingly aware of the threats they face.”

Tests show that it can take as little as 90 seconds for a fire in an electric vehicle to reach what is described as ‘thermal runaway’ with fires  burning at temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees.