An online video showing a burning Volvo C40 Recharge. The owner was driving when the accident took place in Chhattisgarh. The owner’s video taken at the scene shows the exact moment his Volvo C40 Recharge caught fire. Fortunately, everyone inside was able to get out safely before the car was engulfed in flames. Since the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, investigations are continuing to determine the causes of the tragic accident. Thermal conductivity is an important factor in electric vehicle fires, but there are other factors as well.
India’s Defense Research Organization (DRDO) investigated a number of electric vehicle fire cases and found that most of the electric vehicles that caused the fires had faulty software in the battery management system ‘BMS’. Also, most vehicles that catch fire don’t have a cooling system that allows burned cells to dissipate the heat, and the batteries in most electric vehicles burn are low-quality cells.
It’s not the first time an electric car has caught fire. Over the years, many electric vehicles have caught fire, from the Tata Nexon electric SUV to the Okinawa and Ola electric scooters that caught fire. In fact, a Mahindra E2O broke down as well.
Electric vehicle fires present unique challenges. Lifting the car with a crane and submerging it in a large body of water is one way to extinguish these fires, as cooling with water can take endless liters to go away.
Volvo Car India’s Official Statement: C40 Recharge Incident at 29/01/2024 – 8:00 PM:
We are aware of an incident on Saturday involving a fire on a C40 while being driven. The embedded safety features informed the driver to take the car aside and step out of the car. There were no injuries & all occupants were safe. Our Customer Care call center was online to guide the customer on requisite safety measures. At Volvo Cars we pride ourselves on the safety of our cars and have taken this incident very seriously. The said vehicle will be minutely examined by our technical experts to ascertain the cause. We are in touch with and continue to support the customer.
