The research article titled “Evaluating Fire Severity in Electric Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles: A Statistical Approach to Heat Release Rates” emerged as one of the most widely read articles on fire protection in the journal Fire Technology (Springer Nature) throughout 2025.

The study is the result of the work of a collaboration between Mohd Zahirasri Mohd Tohir (Safety Engineering Interest Group - SEIG, Universiti Putra Malaysia) former Marie Curie researcher at the University of Navarra’s Department of Building Construction, Services, and Structures of the School, and Professor César Martín-Gómez.

Key Findings and Impact This pioneering research addresses fire safety within the paradigm of modern mobility. Through a rigorous statistical analysis of Heat Release Rates (HRR), the authors demonstrate that electric vehicles (EVs) exhibit distinct fire dynamics, frequently characterized by higher intensity peaks compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs).

The study proposes a probabilistic fire design model, providing engineers and architects with a more versatile and precise tool for risk assessment in infrastructure and parking facilities. By moving beyond conventional deterministic methods, this work highlights the importance of the critical necessity of evolving fire safety standards to keep pace with rapid advancements in vehicle technology, particularly given the escalating prevalence of electric vehicles.

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