How Electric Cars Turned Into a Crisis for Israel: Fire Risks Force Urgent Evacuation at Ports

Electric cars, often hailed as the future of transportation, have become an unexpected safety hazard at Israeli ports, prompting authorities to carry out a sudden and large-scale evacuation. The crisis unfolded when concerns emerged over fire risks linked to parked EVs, catching both officials and importers off guard.

What Happened?

In recent weeks, thousands of electric vehicles awaiting delivery at Israeli ports were flagged as a fire hazard, particularly due to overheating or battery-related malfunctions that could spark spontaneous combustion. The risk was deemed serious enough for officials to demand an immediate clearance of large EV stockpiles, especially at Ashdod and Haifa ports.

The emergency move was initiated after a number of incidents globally where EVs, left in storage for extended periods, had caught fire due to thermal instability in their lithium-ion batteries.

Why Are EVs a Concern?

While EVs are generally safe in daily use, they pose heightened risks when parked in large numbers, especially under hot and poorly ventilated conditions. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to temperature and physical damage, and if one vehicle catches fire, it can lead to a rapid chain reaction—a phenomenon known as thermal runaway.

Ports, which store hundreds or even thousands of EVs in close quarters, are particularly vulnerable to such incidents, and Israel’s humid and warm climate only increases the danger.

Immediate Response

In response, the Israeli Ministry of Transport ordered emergency measures to remove EVs from congested docks and relocate them to safer, more dispersed storage facilities. This move has disrupted regular operations at ports and caused delays in vehicle deliveries, affecting both importers and customers.

Officials are now reassessing import guidelines and port storage protocols for EVs to avoid similar risks in the future.

Broader Implications

This incident shines a spotlight on the logistical challenges that come with mass adoption of electric vehicles—not just in usage but in safe storage and transportation. As global EV shipments surge, countries may need to update infrastructure and safety regulations to accommodate this new reality.

What was once seen as a step toward greener transportation is now forcing Israel to rethink how it handles electric cars behind the scenes—raising important questions for ports and EV logistics worldwide