A growing number of tragic road incidents are drawing attention to a lesser-discussed danger: what happens when the electric systems that run these cars suddenly fail, leaving drivers and passengers trapped inside, and even burnt to death.
In the fatal accidents in recent years, victims have been unable to escape their vehicles after collisions, not because of crash injuries alone, but because the electronic systems that control doors and windows shut down after impact. When fires ignite—whether from damaged batteries or surrounding fuel sources—the time-critical seconds to survive are lost.
Modern EVs rely heavily on electronic switches designed for comfort and aesthetics. The assumption is that backup systems will always work. In reality, those systems are not infallible. Even when manufacturers include manual release mechanisms, they are often hidden beneath panels, placed in awkward positions, or poorly explained to drivers. In moments of panic, when smoke and flames are spreading, few have the clarity to recall instructions buried in the back pages of a car manual.
Firefighters and rescue crews underline another complication: lithium-ion battery fires behave differently from gasoline-fueled ones. They spread quickly, release toxic fumes, and are notoriously hard to extinguish. That means every second a passenger remains trapped becomes more critical than in a conventional crash.
EVs are statistically less likely to catch fire than gasoline or diesel-fueled cars, according to multiple studies from 2020 to 2025. For example, a UK analysis indicates that only 0.0012% of electric vehicles caught fire compared to 0.1% of internal combustion engine vehicles over recent years. Similarly, Scandinavian data from 2022 showed EVs caught fire in only 0.004% of the fleet, while combustion vehicles had a fire rate closer to 0.08%—a 20-times higher incidence in traditional vehicles. Even with these lower rates, electric vehicle fires often more complex nature of battery-related blazes.
The loss of electrical power disables primary door and window controls, trapping occupants inside. When fires erupt, especially those involving lithium-ion batteries, occupants face a terrifying scenario with limited means of escape. This gap in emergency preparedness has led to incidents with fatal outcomes for trapped drivers and passengers.
Lithium-ion battery fires, known for their thermal runaway effect, generate extreme heat and toxic fumes and can reignite multiple times after being extinguished. They require specialized firefighting methods and extended response times, complicating rescue efforts. By contrast, fires in combustion vehicles, though more frequent, tend to follow established firefighting protocols and often allow quicker access to trapped occupants.
If you are a current owner or a future owner of an EV, you must learn how to manually open the door. This small knowledge might save your life.
