Whenever a car fire involves an Electric Vehicle in Malaysia, videos explode across TikTok and WhatsApp groups within minutes, sparking widespread debate about EV battery safety. Following a recent house fire in Alam Damai, Cheras linked to an EV charging overnight, public concern reached a peak.
However, official data tells a completely different story. The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) revealed that while EV adoption has surged across the nation, the number of recorded EV fires has remained surprisingly static year-on-year.
Speaking at the JBPM Fire Skills Hub (HKK) program at MITEC, Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad addressed the ongoing anxiety surrounding EV fires.
"Based on our statistics for the past three years, there were about 25 new cases involving EVs across four categories.
"The total number does not show an increase; it is basically static from year to year. However, there are more EVs now, and we have not yet done a comparison based on the ratio of total EV vehicles," Nor Hisham stated.
Comparing The Odds: EVs vs. Petrol Cars In MalaysiaTo truly understand why Bomba says the numbers aren't as alarming as they look online, we have to look at the scale. Official JBPM data shows that since 2023, there were 12,288 vehicle fire emergencies recorded nationwide.
To put that into perspective, official Road Transport Department (RTD/JPJ) database figures reported by the New Straits Times reveal that while total vehicle registrations sit at roughly 41 million, Malaysia has approximately 15.61 million active cars on the road with valid road tax, after filtering out over 15 million abandoned or long-inactive vehicles.
Meanwhile, Paul Tan’s Automotive News reports that all-time battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations stood at 122,286 units as of July 2026.
When you compare recorded fires against these active fleet sizes, the risk metrics tell a clear story:
Electric Vehicles (EVs): With 25 reported fire cases across a ~3-year tracking window out of 122,286 registered EVs, the fire incidence rate sits at roughly 0.02%.General Vehicle Fleet: With over 12,000 recorded vehicle fires in the same multi-year window across roughly 15.61 million active cars, traditional fuel vehicles account for the vast majority of daily fires.When scaled against the sheer volume of vehicles on the road, traditional fuel vehicles statistically record over double the fire incidence rate of electric vehicles.
Fire incidents aren't exclusive to driving or charging. According to JBPM, many general vehicle fires happen while parked—driven by "resistance heating" from loose wiring, aged battery terminals, fuel line leaks, or shoddy aftermarket wiring bypasses.
What Caused The Cheras House Fire?
The statement follows an incident near Surau At Taqwa in Alam Damai, Cheras, where a two-storey terrace house suffered severe damage. Preliminary operational reports suggested the fire originated from an EV being charged at the front porch.
However, Bomba cautioned against jumping to premature conclusions. Investigators are currently evaluating three distinct possibilities:
Globally, data from auto safety agencies shows internal combustion engine (petrol/diesel) vehicles combust at a significantly higher rate per 100,000 units than battery electric vehicles.
Why Home Charging Safety Is The Next Big PriorityBecause EV charging typically runs continuously for 7 to 8 hours overnight, electrical systems undergo prolonged strain. To address this, JBPM plans to propose formal national safety guidelines for home EV charging.
Currently, fire authorities have limited oversight over private residential wiring installed downstream of the miniature circuit breaker (MCB). Until these official standards are established, JBPM strongly advises EV owners to use chargers that meet safety standards and hire registered, certified contractors for installation.
Read: Bomba: EV Fire NOT Charging-Related But A Wake-Up Call
