What Happens When EVs and Hybrid Vehicles Catch Fire?

A huge fire erupted at the First Industrial Township (FIT) in Barangay Pagaspas, Tanauan City, Batangas on Sunday (April 6). According to reports, the blaze originated from a warehouse storing cooking oil and other edible oils, rapidly spreading to an adjacent open lot containing approximately 1,000 brand-new vehicles.

Burned vehicles in the warehouse fire in Batangas last April 6

The fire began around 1:00 PM, producing thick, heavy smoke and causing explosions, as reported by witnesses. Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, and the fire was declared under control late afternoon thanks to quick action of the local fire department which prevented further escalation. 

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Approximately 200 vehicles awaiting distribution were destroyed in the fire. Affected units were largely MG3 Hybrid and MG4 Electric Vehicles (EVs), according to Uzzi Asuncion, head of public relations for MG Motors Philippines.

What’s interesting is that, despite the intense heat, the lithium-ion batteries in the EVs did not combust. This is a real-life scenario where EVs and hybrid cars containing lithium batteries pose similar risks as internal combustion cars that contain flammable fluids and fuel. 

MG shared this photo of some of its vehicles that burned in the fire in Batangas last Sunday

"We are deeply concerned about the recent fire incident at the Batangas industrial park,” MG Philippines said in an official statement addressing the incident. “We are coordinating closely with local authorities to assess the situation and determine the impact on our inventory. The safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority.”

Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas personally oversaw the emergency response at the site. He commended the fire department for their prompt action and noted that the warehouse's fire suppression system effectively minimized internal damage. The First Philippine Industrial Park, which operates the FIT, expressed gratitude to the fire department for their swift response, which prevented further damage to the facility.

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire started in a warehouse containing cooking oil and other edible oils due to the intense summer heat and exposed oil containers stored on the open yard.  No injuries have been reported.