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The lithium battery fires I’ve seen associated with BEVs accelerate faster (edit, was: are quite a bit more vigorous) than those I’ve seen associated with gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles. Shouldn’t the violence of the fire (not just the number of incidents) figure into the safety calculus?

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I would be far more concerned with the acceleration of the fire. If I have plenty of notice to get away from the vehicle and to keep others away, who cares how vigorous it is? Either way, the car will burn down. I don't think it matters how long that will take.

Have there been any deaths in these EV fires?

That’s what I was trying to say but didn’t successfully, the BEV fires I’ve seen in testing accelerate quite a bit faster. Plus, the battery tends to be located below the passenger compartment, whereas fuel fires tend to start in the engine compartment. It doesn’t feel like the two types of vehicle fires are directly comparable by frequency of incidents alone.

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