As part of its analysis, the NTSB examined national and international standards established to maximize the safety of electric vehicles. Particular attention was paid to the guidance supplied by electric vehicle manufacturers for first and second responders to vehicle crashes and high-voltage battery fires. The examination focused on high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. The analysis identified two primary safety issues:

Inadequacy of vehicle manufacturers’ emergency response guides for minimizing the risks to first and second responders posed by high-voltage lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles.

Gaps in safety standards and research related to high-voltage lithium-ion batteries involved in high-speed, high-severity crashes.

This report provides the findings of the investigation and present recommendations for improving the safety of first and second responders who deal with high-voltage lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles.

Reviewed for relevancy: 2026