In order to understand electric vehicles fires deeply, the full-scale combustion experiment of the electric vehicle was conducted by the thermal runaway of the power batteries. The combustion and spread characteristics, temperature outside the vehicle and radiant heat caused by the thermal runaway of power batteries were studied. The results showed that at the initial stage of combustion, the jet fire generated by the battery pack can reach about 2.6 m. In the experiment, the temperature curve outside the vehicles was consistent with the change law of the radiant heat curve and two peaks occurred, and the maximum heat flux outside the vehicle was 4.878 kW/m² . The electric vehicle fire is suppressed at the initial stage by a fire blanket. The compressed air foam is more effective in extinguishing fires than the fine water spray.

electric vehicle, combustion behaviors, temperature, radiant heat