BlueSG Car Engulfs in Flames on BKE; Driver Suffers Minor Burns

An electric vehicle caught fire while traveling on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), burning so severely that only a charred shell remained.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel extinguished the blaze, and one person was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Here’s what happened.

BlueSG Car Engulfs in Flames on BKE; Driver Suffers Minor Burns

The SCDF reported on Facebook on Tuesday (18 Feb 2025) that authorities received notification of an electric vehicle fire at approximately 9:20 PM on Monday (17 Feb 2025).

The incident occurred on the BKE toward Woodlands, near the Dairy Farm Road exit.

According to photos accompanying the post, by the time SCDF personnel extinguished the fire, the electric vehicle was completely destroyed.

Only a blackened, deformed shell remained, with the vehicle’s components and interior features burned beyond recognition.

Upon arrival, SCDF personnel immediately covered the electric vehicle with a fire blanket to isolate the fire and control smoke spread.

They used three water jets to cool the vehicle and deployed specialized equipment to penetrate the chassis battery casing, directly injecting water into the burning battery.

Battery Risks and Injured Driver

Due to the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles that catch fire still pose a high risk of reignition even after initial extinguishment. Therefore, SCDF personnel continued cooling the electric vehicle after the flames were put out.

The SCDF stated that one person was examined by medical personnel and subsequently transported to Singapore General Hospital for treatment of minor burns.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BlueSG Confirmation and Safety Measures

In response to inquiries from Lianhe Zaobao, shared electric vehicle operator BlueSG confirmed that the burning vehicle belonged to their fleet.

A spokesperson said the driver who suffered minor injuries had returned home to recover after receiving treatment at the hospital, and the incident did not involve any third-party vehicles.

The spokesperson also mentioned that BlueSG had experienced only one electric vehicle fire incident in the past three years, which was caused by flammable air conditioning refrigerant used in the electric vehicle at that time.

Since then, the company has replaced the refrigerant with non-flammable materials, and no similar incidents had occurred until now.

BlueSG is working closely with authorities to investigate the cause of this incident. The company is also conducting a comprehensive inspection of its fleet to maintain the highest safety standards.