Hybrid car explodes in Belgium: experts warn dual engines more dangerous

A hybrid vehicle exploded on Saturday evening while charging in the West Flemish town of Izegem, causing severe damage to a nearby apartment building and reigniting debate about the safety of hybrid technology.

Fire crews were quickly on the scene to contain the blaze, which broke out in an underground car park. No fatalities were reported, but the blast left the residential structure with extensive structural damage.

According to Bastiaan Reymer, lecturer in Automotive Technology at Thomas More University, speaking to VRT News, such incidents remain exceptional. “Cases like this are extremely rare,” he said, “but unfortunately, they can’t be prevented entirely.”

Reymer explained that modern electric vehicles are generally less likely to ignite than traditional petrol-fuelled cars. However, the design of hybrids – combining both a battery system and a combustion engine with a fuel tank – creates additional points of vulnerability. If an electrical fault triggers a fire, the heat can ignite the petrol, increasing the risk of explosion.

Built-in safety systems

Vehicle manufacturers have invested heavily in safety mechanisms intended to reduce such risks. Most modern hybrids feature automatic shut-off systems that disconnect the power supply if an anomaly is detected during charging or operation. Even so, experts acknowledge that it is impossible to eliminate danger completely. Small production faults, wear and tear, or damage sustained in use can occasionally lead to failures.

The explosion in Izegem, though alarming, is not without precedent. Over the past few years, several other hybrid and plug-in vehicles have been involved in similar incidents worldwide, each highlighting the unique safety challenges of dual-power systems.

Other reported hybrid car fires

In Finland, investigators believe a hybrid car charging in a Tampere car park triggered a 2025 blaze that destroyed more than thirty vehicles. Earlier that same year in Australia, a BMW hybrid caught fire in a public car park at Sanctuary Cove, engulfing three nearby vehicles before emergency services could respond.

Although rare, these events have prompted renewed calls for better battery monitoring, temperature control, and emergency-response training. Firefighters across Europe and beyond have been adapting their techniques to handle high-voltage battery fires, which can reignite even after appearing extinguished.

Perspective and prevention

Safety analysts stress that the overall risk remains extremely low. Statistically, hybrid and electric vehicles catch fire far less often than those powered solely by petrol or diesel. Nevertheless, when incidents do occur, they tend to attract considerable public attention because of their intensity and the difficulty of extinguishing lithium-ion fires.

For drivers, experts recommend routine maintenance, following manufacturer guidance on charging, and acting promptly on any recall notices. The Izegem case serves as a reminder that while technology continues to advance, no vehicle is entirely immune from risk – and safety vigilance remains essential as the world transitions towards cleaner forms of transport.