Skip navigation

Network

Cover of Incident Response for Low and Zero Emission Vehicles
Incident Response for Low and Zero Emission Vehicles
  • Publication no: AP-R746-25
  • ISBN: 978-1-923617-04-9
  • Published: 4 December 2025

This report explores how electric vehicle (EV) battery fires pose new challenges for traffic incident management. Drawing on a literature review, stakeholder engagement and 8 international case studies, it provides insights into the risks and operational impacts of EV incidents across different vehicle and road network types.

The report explores the difference between EVs on fire and thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries. Thermal runaway is less frequent, but involves new hazards such as off-gassing, jet-like flames and secondary ignition. The report presents a 5-stage incident response framework for road managers, aligned with Austroads’ traffic incident management guidance.

Seventeen recommendations are included to support planning, detection, response deployment, incident scene management and recovery. With forward planning and implementation, road agencies and emergency services can reduce risk and improve safety and network resilience across Australia and New Zealand as EV numbers increase.

Watch a recording of the webinar to learn more.

  • Summary
  • Terms and Abbreviations
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Background
    • 1.2 Purpose
    • 1.3 Scope
    • 1.4 Methodology
  • 2. Literature Review
    • 2.1 Literature review purpose and summary
    • 2.2 Electric vehicles overview
      • 2.2.1 What is an electric vehicle?
      • 2.2.2 EVs in Australia and New Zealand
      • 2.2.3 Fuel cell EVs
      • 2.2.4 Electric bikes and electric scooters
      • 2.2.5 Safety regulations and LiBs
      • 2.2.6 EV labelling
    • 2.3 Future trends in EVs and targets
      • 2.3.1 Future trends in BEVs
      • 2.3.2 Future trends in FCEVs
      • 2.3.3 Government targets for EV uptake
    • 2.4 The role of LiBs in EV incidents
      • 2.4.1 Battery structure and terminology
      • 2.4.2 Types of EV fires
      • 2.4.3 Battery abuse
      • 2.4.4 Hazards of thermal runaway in EVs
      • 2.4.5 Extinguishing thermal runaway
      • 2.4.6 Secondary or delayed ignition
      • 2.4.7 Electrocution risk
      • 2.4.8 Ongoing development of battery technologies
      • 2.4.9 Batteries in FCEVs
    • 2.5 Scale and characteristics of EV incidents
      • 2.5.1 Scale of electric vehicle incidents
      • 2.5.2 Key differences between EV and ICEV incidents
      • 2.5.3 Environmental impacts of electric vehicle incidents
      • 2.5.4 Fatalities involving EVs
      • 2.5.5 Water supply needs in fires in EVs compared to ICEVs
    • 2.6 Incident management and response
      • 2.6.1 Existing Australian and New Zealand published approaches to incident management
      • 2.6.2 International practice
      • 2.6.3 Exclusion zones during EV incidents
      • 2.6.4 Battery disposal
      • 2.6.5 Education and training on EV and incident response
    • 2.7 Impact of EV incidents on infrastructure
      • 2.7.1 Using fire test data to understand the impact of EV incidents on infrastructure
      • 2.7.2 Infrastructure damage caused by EV thermal runaway: Australian examples
  • 3. Stakeholder Engagement
    • 3.1 Engagement activities
    • 3.2 Summary of engagement comments
      • 3.2.1 Incident detection and verification
      • 3.2.2 Response deployment
      • 3.2.3 Site investigation and response
      • 3.2.4 Clearance and recovery
      • 3.2.5 Micromobility issues
      • 3.2.6 Out-of-scope items
  • 4. EV Incident Response Case Studies
    • 4.1 Case study overview
    • 4.2 Case Study 1 – Small EV incident on a rural road
      • 4.2.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.2.2 Australian and New Zealand context
    • 4.3 Case Study 2 – Small EV incident on a shared path
      • 4.3.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.3.2 Australian and New Zealand context
      • 4.3.3 Images of the incident
    • 4.4 Case Study 3 – Medium EV incident on a major road
      • 4.4.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.4.2 Australian and New Zealand context
    • 4.5 Case Study 4 – Medium EV incident on a local road
      • 4.5.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.5.2 Australian and New Zealand context
      • 4.5.3 Images of the incident
    • 4.6 Case Study 5 – Medium EV incident on a rural road
      • 4.6.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.6.2 Australian and New Zealand context
      • 4.6.3 Images of the incident
    • 4.7 Case Study 6 – Large EV incident on a major road
      • 4.7.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.7.2 Australian and New Zealand context
      • 4.7.3 Images of the incident
    • 4.8 Case Study 7 – Large EV incident on a local road
      • 4.8.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.8.2 Australian and New Zealand context
    • 4.9 Case Study 8 – Large EV incident on a rural road
      • 4.9.1 Incident details and management
      • 4.9.2 Australian and New Zealand context
      • 4.9.3 Images of the incident
    • 4.10 Summary
      • 4.10.1 Common themes
      • 4.10.2 Lessons learnt
  • 5. EV Incident Response Framework
    • 5.1 Overview
      • 5.1.1 The increasing importance of EV incident response
    • 5.2 Hazards, risks and impacts from EV incidents
    • 5.3 Stage 1: Planning
      • 5.3.1 Updates to incident response procedures and review
      • 5.3.2 Training in EV incidents
    • 5.4 Stage 2: Detection and verification
      • 5.4.1 EV and LiB identification
    • 5.5 Stage 3: Response deployment
      • 5.5.1 Considering extended incident durations
      • 5.5.2 Use of thermal imaging cameras
      • 5.5.3 First on scene risk management
    • 5.6 Stage 4: Incident scene management
      • 5.6.1 Space and access requirements
      • 5.6.2 Incident cordon definition and sizing
      • 5.6.3 Personal protective equipment
      • 5.6.4 Equipment considerations
      • 5.6.5 Water runoff management
    • 5.7 Stage 5: Clearance and recovery
      • 5.7.1 Identifying and managing secondary and delayed ignition risks consistently
      • 5.7.2 Engaging with the tow and salvage sector
      • 5.7.3 Chain of responsibility for vehicles
      • 5.7.4 Procedures for transporting damaged EVs
      • 5.7.5 Storage of damaged EVs
    • 5.8 Incident response by vehicle type
    • 5.9 Incident response by network type
  • 6. Conclusions and Recommendations
    • 6.1 Recommendations summary
    • 6.2 Conclusions
      • 6.2.1 Areas for future research
  • References
Related publications
Zero Emission Heavy Vehicles and Road Pavements: Comparing Australia and New Zealand to Europe and North America
AP-R725-25
Standardised Signage and Pavement Symbols for Low and Zero Emission Vehicles
AP-R667-22
Guidelines for Low and Zero Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Installation
AP-G98-22
View all related publications
Latest Network News
8 Apr 2026
New Austroads Guideline supports safer, healthier travel to school

Austroads’ new Travel to School Guideline provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help road agencies, local government and school communities support safer travel to and from school.

23 Jan 2026
Austroads identifies opportunities to improve pedestrian planning for agencies and councils across Australasia

Walking or wheeling is part of every journey, every day, for everyone. Pedestrian planning therefore plays a critical role in enabling safe and equitable access to jobs, services and communities across Australia and New Zealand. Austroads has completed a review of pedestrian planning across the Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, providing a foundation for future improvements to guidance that better supports practitioners and agencies.
View all news