School Bus Fire Safety: Experts Address Misconceptions While Emphasizing Importance of Vigilance

Recent studies and investigations have confirmed that electric vehicles (EVs) are not more prone to catching fire than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, despite public perception following a series of electric school bus fires in Quebec. These incidents prompted temporary suspension of 1,200 Lion Electric buses while authorities conducted thorough investigations into the causes.

Transport Canada, the federal agency leading the investigation, has clarified that their focus is primarily on issues with the low-voltage heating systems rather than the battery components. Lion Electric, the manufacturer of the buses in question, has also confirmed that “neither the electric battery nor the propulsion system was involved” in the incidents.

Despite these clarifications, the fires sparked widespread misinformation online, with numerous social media posts using images of the incidents to claim that electric school buses and EVs in general present inherent safety risks. However, these assertions contradict available research and data from multiple international sources.

Studies conducted in China and Sweden have found that EVs catch fire at similar or even lower rates than conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines. In the United States, data analyzed by AutoinsuranceEZ revealed only 25 EV fires per 100,000 vehicles sold, compared to a significantly higher 1,530 fires per 100,000 gasoline vehicles and 3,475 fires per 100,000 hybrid vehicles.

The National Fire Protection Association has supported these findings, though it continues to advocate for additional research into the subject to further enhance safety protocols and public understanding.

Experts in sustainable transportation argue that the spread of misinformation detracts from the substantial benefits electric school buses offer to students and communities. These advantages include reduced exposure to harmful diesel emissions, improved air quality around educational facilities, and quieter transportation experiences.

Research has even suggested tangible educational benefits, with one study finding that transitioning to electric buses correlates with increased student attendance rates. This evidence has encouraged school districts across North America, from East Texas to Illinois, to gradually replace traditional diesel buses with cleaner electric alternatives.

Canada remains committed to its green transportation initiatives, with national targets aiming for complete decarbonization of new vehicle sales by 2035. While critics maintain that such transition timelines are overly ambitious, environmental and transportation experts broadly agree that properly regulated clean-energy technologies represent crucial components in improving public health outcomes, reducing operational costs, and mitigating climate change impacts.

Valerie Tremblay, who leads sustainable mobility initiatives at Green Communities Canada, has emphasized that while electric bus fire incidents deserve serious attention, they remain statistically rare. Tremblay noted that most documented cases have been linked to heating components that are common to both electric and conventional bus designs, rather than to electric-specific systems.

This assessment has been reinforced by Kate Whitefoot, a mechanical engineering professor, who expressed confidence that electric vehicles demonstrate “at least similar rates of fire risk” when compared to vehicles powered by traditional combustion engines.

The ongoing investigations in Quebec serve as an important reminder that as with any evolving technology, continued safety monitoring and improvement remain essential. However, the current evidence suggests that concerns about elevated fire risks in electric vehicles compared to conventional alternatives are largely unsupported by empirical data.

As the transportation sector continues its gradual shift toward electrification, these findings highlight the importance of evidence-based discussions around the benefits and challenges associated with new vehicle technologies.