Recent news from New Zealand has ignited harsh and misinformed commentary on electric buses. A petrol Subaru crashed head-on into a passenger bus. Sadly, the bus driver died and the occupants of the car were injured. The callous comments on the news article worsened the tragedy, sullying the memory of those affected.
The Auckland Transport bus was engulfed in flames, provoking controversy. In response, North Shore Councillor Richard Hills stated:
“I’m disappointed with the level of misinformation circulating about a fatal collision.”
He called the misinformation “bizarre anti-EV propaganda” and reassured the public:
“Catching a public electric bus is perfectly safe.”
Hills explained further:
“Just like all types of vehicles, there will be times we sadly have EV bus collisions and/or fires, and we know batteries can be harder to put out. That’s why there are fire safety systems and technology built in and around the batteries.”
In fact, the fire started in the petrol car’s engine, and the bus’s batteries were undamaged. These facts were confirmed by bus operator Kinetic and Auckland’s Fire and Emergency Department.
EVs vs. Diesel and Petrol Vehicles
Data from the UK, America, and Australia show that electric vehicles are far less likely to catch fire than petrol vehicles. Councillor Hills highlighted the inconsistency in public perception:
“In August we had an old diesel bus catch fire on the Shore. Two years ago another diesel caught fire on Fanshawe St. Ten days ago, 28 cars caught fire at Whāngarei Hospital and were completely ruined by a hot exhaust starting a fire. None of those horrible incidents mean we should ban diesel vehicles.”
The contrast is clear: petrol and diesel vehicle fires are widely accepted, yet EV fires provoke disproportionate fear. Some Facebook comments were shockingly callous, such as:
“At least it will save on cremation costs! Wait till a bus full of passengers catches fire, it’s only a matter of time!”
Thankfully, others actively debunked the misinformation. Hills emphasized:
“There is no conspiracy here. The reason we are rolling out EV buses is to reduce emissions, reduce operating costs, reduce noise pollution and reduce air pollution in Auckland, especially around the city centre, our town centres, and neighbourhoods.”
He added:
“People have different opinions and that’s okay, but I do worry that sometimes people can be so clouded by those views they forget there are real people dealing with things like this on the other end. Check reliable sources or even wait a day or two, misinformation is rife when events are unfolding.”
Fire Safety in Electric Buses
Barry Farrell from Fire Protection Technologies highlighted the complexities of EV bus safety:
“Despite the rapid growth of electric buses across Australia, there are currently no national standards or requirements specifically addressing fire safety in EV buses, charging depots, or maintenance facilities. Traditional buses have long been covered under established fire protection codes, but with the evolving nature of EV technology, new risks aren’t yet reflected in legislation or building guidelines. This could lead to some problems for the industry.”
He explained that lithium-ion batteries can undergo thermal runaway, spreading rapidly, especially in closely packed depots. In Europe, many fully enclosed depots amplify the risk. However, innovative high-pressure water-mist systems can mitigate it:
“Instead of dumping lots of water on the batteries like a traditional sprinkler, the mist system sprays super-fine droplets that quickly soak up heat and turn to steam. This steam helps choke the fire by pushing away the oxygen it needs to keep burning. The system can cool a fire from over 500°C down to about 50°C in under a minute.”
Farrell emphasized that the goal is not immediate extinguishing, but buying time and reducing risk to first responders. Additionally, mist systems reduce contaminated runoff, protecting the environment and nearby waterways.
“We need collaboration between government, insurers, engineers, and the fire protection industry to create a national standard for fire safety in EV bus depots or charging environments.”
Global Electric Bus Transition
The transition to electric buses continues globally:
- Australia/New Zealand:
- Six King Long EVolution low-floor electric bus chassis began service in Melbourne.
- SkyBus will introduce two electric buses for Perth airport, aiming for a fully electric fleet within 10 years.
- Europe:
- BYD delivered its 5,000th electric bus to Umove in Denmark, marking the first BYD eBus B12.b in Europe.
The expansion demonstrates that electric buses are safe, reliable, and sustainable, offering cleaner, quieter public transport.
Conclusion
Electric buses pose a lower fire risk than diesel counterparts. As more EV buses take to the roads in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, commuters can be assured that the future of public transportation is bright, clean, quiet, safe, and electric.