Are Electric Vehicle Fires Increasing in Turkey?

Ender Öztürk

August 16, 2026

A recent fire involving a parked electric vehicle (EV) in the Akhisar district of Manisa on August 15 has reignited national debates regarding the safety of electric mobility in Turkey. As the number of electric cars on Turkish roads grows rapidly, incidents such as the one in Kethüda Mahallesi have drawn significant public attention. While emergency services successfully extinguished the blaze, the incident has prompted questions about whether these vehicles are more prone to fires than their internal combustion engine counterparts. As of now, the exact cause of the Akhisar fire remains under technical investigation, and it is premature to attribute the ignition to the vehicle’s battery system.

Current data does not support the claim that electric vehicles are more prone to catching fire than traditional gasoline or diesel cars.

Electric Vehicle Fires Receive More Public Attention

As the electric vehicle fleet in Turkey expands, the absolute number of fire incidents naturally rises. Previous reports concerning multiple fires involving the Skywell ET5 model, which even led to calls for official investigations, exemplify the growing visibility of this issue. Similar incidents have been documented in various districts of Istanbul and during charging in Kayseri. However, experts emphasize a critical distinction: increased media coverage of EV fires does not equate to a higher statistical frequency of fires compared to traditional vehicles.

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Internal Combustion Engines Still Statistically More Likely to Burn

In the absence of a centralized, comprehensive fire database in Turkey, international studies provide the most reliable benchmarks. Data from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) in 2022 revealed that out of roughly 611,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, only 23 fires were recorded, representing a rate of approximately 0.004 percent. In contrast, among 4.4 million gasoline and diesel vehicles, there were 3,400 fires, resulting in a rate of 0.08 percent. This suggests that, at least within that dataset, traditional vehicles were nearly 20 times more likely to be involved in a fire incident.

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Thermal Runaway Makes Extinguishing Batteries More Difficult

The primary concern with electric vehicle fires lies in the behavior of lithium-ion batteries. When a battery cell experiences thermal runaway, it can create a chain reaction that is difficult to stop even after the visible flames are suppressed. Unlike fuel fires, battery fires require prolonged cooling to prevent re-ignition, which presents a unique challenge for fire departments. Consequently, municipalities across Turkey are actively investing in new equipment, such as the specialized cooling systems developed by the Nevşehir Fire Department in 2025, to handle these high-voltage risks more effectively.

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New Safety Protocols are Being Developed for Electric Mobility

While isolated incidents like the one in Akhisar spark concern, they must be viewed through a technical lens rather than emotional reactions. The future of automotive safety depends on consistent data collection and the implementation of standardized response procedures for battery-related incidents. As the transition to electric mobility continues, the focus remains on ensuring that infrastructure, from charging stations to parking garages, is equipped to manage these specific technological risks.

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Do you believe the increase in electric vehicle fires is a genuine safety concern, or is it merely a result of more EVs being on the road? We encourage you to share your perspective in the comments section below.