Emergency responders globally are now struggling with the rise in numbers of EV incidents due to the complex effects of Lithium-Ion batteries either on fire or due to the potential for thermal runaway. This is why Fire Containers Ltd has been established – To help emergency responders and other agencies in dealing with EV incidents following fire or vehicle collisions.

The global growth of Electric Vehicles (Updated 2025)

Electric car sales exceeded 17 million in 2024, representing continued strong global momentum. The global electric vehicle fleet has now surpassed 45 million vehicles on the road worldwide as we move into 2025.

Electric cars accounted for approximately 22% of all new car sales in 2024, up from 18% in 2023 and just 2% in 2018. Despite economic pressures and evolving government incentives in some regions, growth remains resilient as EV adoption transitions from early uptake to mainstream market penetration.

While global sales continue to expand, they remain concentrated in key markets. In 2024:

• China accounted for approximately 60% of global EV sales

• Europe represented around 23–25%

• The United States contributed roughly 10–12%

Together, these three regions continue to account for over 90% of total global electric vehicle sales, although emerging growth is now being seen in markets such as India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America.

Sales momentum continued through 2024, with first-quarter global sales exceeding 3.5 million units, around 20–25% higher than the same period in 2023. Although growth rates have moderated slightly compared to the early surge years, the absolute number of vehicles entering the global fleet continues to increase significantly year on year.

The number of available electric vehicle models continues to expand rapidly. By the end of 2024, there were over 650 EV models available globally, reflecting strong OEM investment. Based on current manufacturer announcements, this number is expected to approach or exceed 1,000 models by 2028, significantly broadening consumer choice and accelerating adoption.

Looking ahead, projections suggest EV sales could represent 55% to 80% of global new car sales by 2030, depending on policy, infrastructure expansion, battery production capacity, and economic conditions. Even at the lower end of forecasts, this represents a dramatic shift compared to 22% in 2024.

The trajectory is clear: electric vehicles are no longer emerging technology — they are becoming the dominant force in global automotive markets.

The Electric Vehicle Containment Units (EVCU) can assist multiple organisations including the Emergency services, Recovery operators, Vehicle manufacturers, Insurance companies, Waste management organisations, Recycling centres, Highways agencies and global logistical chains to name a few.

We have designed and developed the world’s first patent protected Electric Vehicle Containment Unit (EVCU) with a built-in water supply which recirculates water for continual cooling and fire suppression even during transit – Click here for more details.

The main difference between the EVCU and other solutions is this is not a submersion unit as major vehicle manufacturers state their batteries should NOT be submerged in water as this can initiate or accelerate thermal runaway. In addition, submersion tactics creates huge amounts of contaminated water. The EVCU utilises the principal of water turning to steam (expansion ratio) to suppress fire development around the vehicle or to continually cool battery compartments to help prevent thermal runaway from developing within the battery compartment.