Over 10K EV Accidents Reported in 2025, 9 Related To Fire: MHI

As electric vehicles (EVs) gain more and more prominence in the Indian market, consumers have started analysing the pros and cons of owning one. While there are plenty of benefits to count for, there are some serious drawbacks as well that prevent the Indian market from mass adoption of EVs. One of them is safety, which has been a hugely debated topic.

According to data shared by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), a total of 23,865 accidents involving electric vehicles were recorded across various States over the last three years. Of these, 26 incidents involved fires. The data is based on the information provided by Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The data has been compiled through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) portal, which began capturing a dedicated field for motorized electric vehicles from November 14, 2022. As per the portal, 5,594 EV-related accidents were recorded in 2023, including eight fire incidents. In 2024, the number rose to 7,817 accidents with nine fire cases, while 2025 saw 10,454 accidents, also with nine reported fire incidents.

Expert Committees to Determine Root Causes

To examine the underlying causes of these incidents, MoRTH constituted an investigating team comprising independent experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, and the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.

Based on the recommendations of this committee, along with inputs from a subsequent expert panel, the Government introduced several regulatory measures aimed at strengthening EV safety standards.

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Amendments to Battery Safety Standards

One of the key measures includes amendments to the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS). Through a notification dated September 28, 2022, MoRTH revised the previous advisories to prescribe specific technical requirements for traction batteries used in L, M, and N category electric powertrain vehicles. These categories cover two-wheelers, quadricycles, passenger vehicles, and goods carriers. The amended standards have been applicable since December 1, 2022.

Additionally, the Ministry issued a notification on December 19, 2022, mandating Conformity of Production (COP) requirements for all categories of electric vehicles, including quadricycles, e-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers. This ensures that vehicles produced in series comply consistently with approved safety standards.

No Proposal to Stop EV Manufacturing

The Government has clarified that there is no intention to stop the manufacture or use of electric vehicles in India. Instead, it aims to strengthen the safety ecosystem through more rigorous testing standards and regulatory oversight. The broader objective remains to promote EV adoption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease dependence on fossil fuels.