Electric vehicles (EVs) are reshaping the future of transportation. From reducing tailpipe emissions to creating new manufacturing jobs, EVs represent a cornerstone of America’s clean energy and advanced manufacturing strategy. But as we accelerate toward electrification, it remains critical that safety keeps pace with innovation. Flame retardants play an essential, yet often overlooked, role in making EVs safe and reliable.
Flame retardants are helping to facilitate the EV transition by acting as a barrier of defense in protecting drivers from potentially deadly fires, assisting first responders by providing more time to make successful rescues, and helping industry manufacturers meet strict fire and safety codes. As policymakers consider regulatory frameworks around flame retardants, it is important to recognize that use of these chemistries has helped save countless lives and prevent billions of dollars in property damage.
EVs rely on high voltage electrical systems, lithium-ion batteries, fast charging infrastructure, and densely packed electronics. While EV fires occur less frequently than in gasoline powered vehicles, when they do occur, they behave very differently. Battery related fires can burn hotter, last longer, and reignite days after the initial event. Charging systems, connectors, and battery casings are especially vulnerable points.
Flame retardant materials are engineered to support addressing these risks. Integrated into battery enclosures, wiring harnesses, connectors, circuit boards, and interior components, flame retardants reduce ignition risk, slow flame spread, and help contain thermal events before they escalate. These materials help provide critical time for occupants to escape a vehicle safely and give first responders better opportunities to manage an incident.
Without flame retardants, many of the lightweight polymers and advanced materials that make EVs efficient, affordable, and high performing may become unavailable to manufacturers due to flammability concerns. Also, flame retardants help automakers meet rigorous U.S. and global fire safety standards, including FMVSS 302 for vehicle interiors, UL 94 flammability ratings for plastics, and international requirements for battery and electrical system safety. These standards are not abstract regulatory exercises, they reflect real world fire scenarios and lessons learned over decades of vehicle safety engineering.
Consumer confidence in EVs depends on the trust that they are not only environmentally advanced but also safe in daily use and in worst case scenarios. Flame retardants are part of the invisible safety infrastructure that supports that trust. The flame retardant industry is deeply embedded in the
American manufacturing ecosystem, developing advanced chemistries, supplying critical materials, investing in research and development, and partnering with automotive manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. These activities support high skilled jobs in chemistry, engineering, manufacturing, and materials science, jobs that help strengthen America’s industrial base.
Moreover, flame retardants enable innovation. By allowing manufacturers to safely use lighter, stronger, and more versatile materials, flame retardants help improve vehicle efficiency, extend driving range, and lower costs. This materials innovation is essential for U.S. automakers competing in a global EV market where safety, performance, and affordability are tightly linked.
As public interest in chemical policy grows, it is vital that regulation of flame retardants remains grounded in sound science, risk-based assessment, and real-world performance data. Blanket restrictions or overly broad classifications of these chemistries could have unintended consequences, potentially undermining safety, increasing vehicle weight, limiting material choices, or shifting innovation and manufacturing offshore. A one size fits all approach to chemical regulation fails to recognize that modern flame retardants are diverse, highly engineered, and used in precise applications where their benefits are measurable and significant.
The flame retardant industry is committed to continuous improvement by investing in safe chemistries, supporting transparent research, and working collaboratively with regulators, automakers, and other stakeholders. We support smart, science-based regulation that protects human health and the environment while also recognizing the indispensable role flame retardants play in fire safety and technological innovation.
As the U.S. builds the next generation of transportation, policymakers must consider potential risks as well as proven benefits. By preserving access to well-established fire safety technologies and fostering an innovation friendly regulatory environment, the United States can lead the world in EV safety, manufacturing excellence, and clean energy leadership.