Electric vehicle fires can reignite even after being put out. How can firefighters safely approach these vehicles? The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has an answer: Send in a robot.
The Vehicle Extrication Robot (VXR), an unmanned machine with its pincer-like mechanism, can be remotely controlled from up to 300m away.
Electric vehicles are increasingly common in Singapore, accounting for more than 60% of newly registered vehicles in the first half of this year. To enhance its response to electric vehicle fires, SCDF officially unveiled the VXR on Wednesday (28 October) at a joint event comprising the Singapore-International Disaster and Emergency Management Expo and Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (SIDEX-ACDR 2026), and the Fire Safety Asia Conference (FiSAC).
The VXR’s rear-mounted, pincer-like lifting mechanism can raise a fire-damaged vehicle after the blaze has initially been extinguished, then move it to a safe area for further action. Because it can be remotely controlled, rescuers can maintain a safe distance from the vehicle during operations.
About the size of a regular car, the VXR can manoeuvre easily in confined spaces such as car parks. It also has an integrated water mist system to protect it from radiant heat while towing or lifting a fire-damaged vehicle.
SCDF explained that lithium-ion batteries can undergo thermal runaway, leaving affected vehicles at risk of reigniting even after a fire has been put out. The vehicles must therefore be moved to a safe area as quickly as possible. A battery fire extinguishing system is then used to pierce the battery’s surface and inject water, targeting the source of the fire more precisely.
Thermal runaway occurs when heat generated within a battery causes its temperature to rise uncontrollably, with heat produced faster than it can dissipate. As the cells are tightly packed, thermal runaway in one cell can easily spread, eventually setting the entire battery pack on fire.
SCDF will conduct field trials of the VXR at Punggol Fire Station in October this year and Kallang Fire Station in April next year.
More electric vehicles on the road, pose greater firefighting challenges
Speaking as guest-of-honour at the opening ceremony, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann noted that the increasing number of electric vehicles on Singapore roads bring new challenges for firefighters.
“Through ongoing research and fire tests, complemented by specialised equipment, SCDF is developing new fire safety standards and operating procedures to strengthen its emergency response capabilities for electric vehicles,” she said.
