Many people may not know that handling an electric car fire cannot be the same as handling a regular car. Not because electric cars are dangerous, but because the battery technology used has special characteristics that we need to understand—especially regarding handling in emergency situations such as fires.

Most electric cars use lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are very efficient at storing energy, but if they are damaged or hit hard, excessive heat can occur which triggers a chain reaction between battery cells—called thermal runaway. This reaction can produce extreme temperatures (more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit), and can even continue to burn without oxygen from the outside.

Well, because the heat is extraordinary and the source of the fire is inside the metal module, regular water is often unable to extinguish an electric car fire. In fact, for one EV unit that catches fire, it can take tens of thousands of liters of water just to cool it down. This is clearly a big challenge if the fire occurs in a location with minimal water supply, such as a toll road or building parking lot.

As an alternative, some firefighters now use special blankets (fire blanket) that can slow the spread of heat and flames. In some extreme cases, cars are even submerged in water containers for hours to ensure their temperature is stable.

So, What Can Users Do?

One preventive measure that electric car owners can take is to provide a special fire extinguisher for EVs. Regular extinguishers are not necessarily suitable for dealing with fires from lithium-ion batteries. Well, here are some recommended types of fire extinguishers:

  • F-500 Encapsulator - absorbs heat and envelops fuel particles so they don't react further.
  • AVD (Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion) - forms a shield in the burning area, absorbs heat, and prevents the fire from reigniting.
  • CO₂ dan Halotron - good for electronic areas because they don't leave residue.
  • AFFF Foam - a form of protective foam that helps lower temperatures and prevent fire from spreading.

This type of fire extinguisher has advantages such as high resistance to heat, longer spray duration, and most importantly: it does not conduct electricity, so it is safer for users.

Where Can You Buy EV-Specific Fire Extinguishers?

If you are an EV user and don't have a dedicated fire extinguisher yet, there are now many places that sell them:

  • Safety equipment stores, both offline and online
  • E-commerce Platform 
  • Authorized distributors such as APAR F-500 Indonesia, FirePro, or fire extinguisher providers who are experienced in the electric vehicle sector.

Make sure you check the product specifications before buying. Choose a fire extinguisher that is designed for lithium-ion battery fires, not just for regular fires.