When it comes to electric vehicles (EVs), one topic seems to grab headlines more than any other: battery fires.
From viral videos to sensational news reports, stories of electric vehicles “bursting into flames” are used as fuel (no pun intended) for anti-EV rhetoric. But let’s separate fact from fiction, especially when it comes to DAF electric trucks, which are built with safety, reliability and customer confidence in mind.
The Myth: “EV Batteries Are Fire Hazards”
Anti-EV press often points to incidents involving thermal runaway — a rare but serious condition where a battery cell overheats uncontrollably, potentially igniting adjacent cells and leading to a fire.
This fear has been amplified by incidents involving electric cars using NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) or NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminium) battery chemistries, which, while energy dense, can be more thermally volatile under extreme abuse, damage, or manufacturing defect.
The Truth: DAF Uses Safer LFP Battery Technology
DAF Trucks equip their electric trucks with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and that’s a game changer.
Here’s why LFP batteries are safer:
- Thermal Stability – LFP batteries are inherently more stable at high temperatures, dramatically lowering the risk of thermal runaway.
- Resistant to Fire – Even when severely abused (e.g. crushed, punctured, or overcharged), LFP batteries are far less likely to ignite than other chemistries.
- Longer Cycle Life – LFP cells last longer with consistent performance, reducing replacement needs and improving residual values.
- Cost-Efficient & Ethical – LFP avoids using costly and controversial materials like cobalt, making them more sustainable and scalable. Oh, and by the way, approximately 7000 metric tons of cobalt are used annually in diesel fuel production.
So when you drive a DAF electric truck, you’re not only moving toward zero emissions, you’re doing it with one of the safest battery chemistries available today.
Why the Confusion? Clickbait and Misunderstanding
Battery fires make headlines because they’re dramatic, but statistically, EVs are far less likely to catch fire than diesel vehicles. According to the Energy Saving Trust (UK, 2025), electric vehicles have a 0.0012% chance of catching fire, compared with 0.1% for petrol and diesel vehicles.
What’s often missing from those reports is the type of battery involved and whether the conditions were abnormal (such as collisions or defects). Lumping all EVs together ignores the reality that not all battery systems are created equal. What is also overlooked is where the fire originated from. Just because a diesel truck catches fire it doesn’t necessarily start in the fuel tank. Consequently, not all EV fires are caused by the batteries.
DAF Prioritises Safety First
DAF’s decision to use LFP technology reflects a serious commitment to operational safety, total cost of ownership, and long-term fleet reliability.
At HTC Group, we’re proud to support that mission helping customers transition to electric not just confidently, but safely, with full knowledge and transparency.
Don’t let fear headlines ‘steer’ your future.
Talk to us at HTC Group about the truth behind EV safety and the proven performance of DAF’s electric range designed to move your business forward, without compromise.