Are Electric Cars Safer Than Petrol Cars? What ANCAP and the Fire Data Say
Every second bloke at the barbie has a story about an EV that went up in flames or "wouldn't survive a crash". Most of it is third-hand and a lot of it is wrong.
But there's a grain of truth in the fire talk, and that's where people get caught out.
So here's what the crash tests and the fire numbers actually say, and where the real risks are.
Key Facts: Electric Car Safety in Australia
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Myth 1: EVs are less safe in a crash
ANCAP, Australia's independent crash-test body, scores cars on four things: protecting adults, protecting kids, protecting pedestrians and cyclists, and how well the car's safety tech avoids a crash.
In its 2025 results, released in January 2026, it named seven top performers: the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Volvo EX90, IM 5, MG S5 EV, Mini Cooper E and Toyota HiLux.
Six are electric. The Electric Vehicle Council says the same, though it's an industry body, so treat its framing with a grain of salt.
Be careful reading this, though. It's a list of top performers among cars tested in 2025, not a ranking of every car on the road. It doesn't prove every EV is safer than every petrol car. What it does show is that an EV is no handicap in a crash.
Myth 2: Chinese-brand EVs cut corners on safety
ANCAP's February 2026 results gave five stars to the Leapmotor B10, Zeekr 7X and Geely Starray EM-i (a plug-in hybrid), alongside the Kia EV4.
The Leapmotor B10 scored 95 per cent for child occupant protection, equal to the highest under the old criteria. That doesn't mean every new model will pass. Some new arrivals, such as the Jaecoo J5 EV and Leapmotor B03X, had no rating we could find.
Always check ancap.com.au for the exact model.
Myth 3: EVs catch fire all the time
They don't. NRMA, citing EV FireSafe (a tracker funded by the Department of Defence), reports about 1 in 100,000 globally and about 3 in 100,000 in Australia. The NRMA says EV fires are far less common than fires in petrol and diesel cars, but its page doesn't give a direct per-vehicle rate for petrol cars, so we can't put an exact number on the comparison.
Where the real risk is
Fire is rarer in EVs but harder to deal with.
NRMA notes battery fires start with thermal runaway, a self-feeding reaction that spreads between cells. Water works, but firefighters need large volumes over a long time. Batteries can reignite hours or days later, even after a fire looks out, which is why responders need to know it's an EV.
Claim | What the evidence says |
EVs are worse in a crash | Six of ANCAP's seven 2025 top performers were electric |
New Chinese brands cut corners | Leapmotor B10, Zeekr 7X and Geely Starray EM-i all earned five stars |
EVs catch fire constantly | About 3 in 100,000 in Australia since 2021, per NRMA |
EV fires are no different | Wrong: they can reignite and need large volumes of water |
Do This / Don't Do This
Do this if you're worried about crash safety: check the exact model's ANCAP rating and compare it, whatever the fuel type.
Do this if you charge at home: use a licensed electrician to install the wall charger to the Australian standard (AS/NZS 3000), and fit a smoke or heat alarm in the garage, as Fire and Rescue NSW recommends.
Don't do this if your EV has been in a serious crash: don't assume it's safe because there's no fire. Tell responders, tow operators and your insurer it's an EV, because a damaged battery can reignite.
Don't do this if you think "EV" means "automatically safest". Not every new model has been rated.
Are electric cars safer than petrol cars? FAQs
Are electric cars safer than petrol cars?
In ANCAP's 2025 results, six of the seven top performers were electric. That shows EVs can be very safe, but it isn't proof that every EV beats every petrol car.
Are EVs more likely to catch fire?
No. NRMA reports about 3 in 100,000 EVs in Australia have had a battery fire since 2021, and says EV fires are far less common than petrol-car fires. They can be harder to put out.
Is it safe to charge an EV at home overnight?
Yes, with a properly installed charger. Use a licensed electrician, follow the Australian standard and use the supplied charger or a certified one.
What should I do if my EV catches fire?
Get everyone away, call emergency services and tell them it's an electric vehicle. Don't try to fight it yourself. Battery vapours can be dangerous.
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