By zhanqun1 
Recently, there were a few incidents where the Xiaomi SU7 caught fire, and it caused a lot of concern. Some people have wondered: “Are electric vehicles (EVs) unsafe?”
In fact, it is not that easy. Let’s look at the facts in detail.
1. Every Incident Has Different Causes — Don’t Jump to Conclusions
The reasons for the Xiaomi SU7 fires were different in each incident:
Nanjing Incident: Probes showed that the accident was mainly caused by icy roads and driver error. The battery was damaged in the accident, leading to a short circuit and fire.
Anhui Highway Incident: The car crashed into a concrete barrier at 97 km/h. The high-speed impact damaged the battery and led to fire. Xiaomi affirmed that it was not spontaneous combustion but caused by external force.
Zhanjiang Incident: The fire was triggered by a crushed battery from an electric scooter after a collision — not a problem with the Xiaomi car itself.
In some cases, Xiaomi’s technology helped contain the fire.
For example, during one accident in Nanjing, the SU7’s “cell inversion” battery design helped control the flames and stopped the fire from spreading to the passenger area, showing that their safety measures actually worked.
In fact, lithium batteries are dangerous, but tech is changing fast.
Liquid lithium batteries can catch fire in high-impact crashes — not Xiaomi-specific, but an industry-wide issue. However, new tech like cell inversion, better insulation materials, and solid-state batteries are reducing the risks.
Take Xiaomi SU7: it has 17 layers of high-voltage insulation and a design that vents pressure downwards. Real-world crashes have demonstrated these work.
2. Do EVs Catch Fire More Easily Than Gas Cars?
Data says no.
According to a study in 2024, the frequency of fires in gasoline vehicles is 0.58 per 10,000 vehicles, while in EVs, it’s less at 0.44 per 10,000.
However, because EV fire accidents get more media attention, people incorrectly think EVs are more dangerous.
Additionally, the causes of fires are different:
EV fires are mostly caused by battery damage from crashes or charging issues.
Gasoline cars mostly catch fire because of wiring issues or fuel system issues.
2024 data shows that 37% of EV fires were caused by underbody impacts to the vehicle, and 21% by fast charging.
3. Industry Safety Standards Are Getting Stricter, and Technology Is Advancing
China is imposing stricter safety standards.
In 2025, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the “toughest battery safety regulations” in history. Starting from 2026, all new EV models must meet the “no fire, no explosion” standard. This is pushing companies to upgrade their technology.
Big players like CATL and BYD have already met these higher standards.
Where technology is headed:
Solid-State Batteries: They could eradicate fire risks at the source, but they’re not yet mass-produced.
Better Heat Management: New materials like ceramic composites and aerogels that retard the spread of fire are being developed.
User Education: Car manufacturers must also educate users about the limitations of smart driving features to prevent overreliance.
4. One Accident Doesn’t Represent the Whole Industry
Just because one EV catches fire, it doesn’t necessarily mean all EVs are unsafe.
Big brands like Tesla and BYD have also had fire incidents, but EV safety overall is improving year by year.
Tips for consumers:
Pay attention to battery types — LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries like BYD’s Blade Battery are safer overall than NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) batteries.
Choose models that meet the new national safety standards (GB38031-2025).
The Xiaomi car fire accidents need to be investigated in detail.
We cannot simply claim that “all EVs are unsafe” based on a few accidents.
With continual tech improvement and increasingly strict standards, EV safety is getting better.
By choosing appropriately and using EVs in the proper way, they remain a sound and safe option moving forward.