One driver's insurance premiums increased by 21% in 2022, even though he had never caused an accident. LexisNexis Risk Solutions had compiled a 258-page report on the driver that listed each time he or his wife had driven their vehicle over the previous six months and the report was provided to his insurance company. Many drivers don’t realize that by activating the “safe driver” features the car manufacturer will share their information with data brokers – who then sell the information to insurers. Because the consent to sell this information is buried in fine print, many drivers have no idea they “consented” to the selling of their information. According to the Times, the profiles compiled by LexisNexis were found to contain detailed data on all trips made by the insured drivers, including start and end times, duration, distance, and all instances of hard acceleration and braking. This data was used to increase insurance premiums. If you drive faster and brake harder than your fellow drivers, you’ll pay more for your coverage, even if you don’t have any accidents. Data collected by car companies is not secure Researchers at the Mozilla Foundation deemed cars the worst product category they had ever reviewed in terms of data privacy and information security. 84% of the companies either sell or share data and half of the companies share private information with governmental officials upon request, no warrant required. Car companies do not keep the data they collect very secure, either. Seventeen of the 25 brands Mozilla looked at had a “bad track record” in the past three years for “leaks, hacks and breaches that threatened their drivers’ privacy.” Furthermore, the companies create inferences about customers based on the data collected, including characteristics based on the locations you visit, podcasts you listen to, your job and other shared information. How can you keep your data from being collected and sold? According to Cars.com and Mozilla, in order to protect your data, you should: Read the fine print at the dealership. Look for words like "sell" and "share" and pay attention to who your data is being sold to and shared with. If the salesperson is entering a lot of information into their computer system, ask to see it. Don’t let the salesperson walk you through the technology on your new car. Salespeople get commission for signing up customers for connected services and getting you to opt into extra data-sharing systems. Once you take delivery of the car, review the car settings and the settings on connected mobile apps to opt out of sharing your data. “Look for settings like " Data Privacy" or " Data Usage." Opt-out of sharing any data with third-parties. But be careful not to opt out of features you want. Watch for features such as “ Smart Driver " or “ Driving Score .” Check on the car’s infotainment menu and connected phone apps to see what is being collected and shared. The Mozilla Foundation suggests not using your car’s mobile app, or at least limiting the information it can access on your phone. You can also avoid connecting your phone to your car to stop sharing sensitive data like contacts or texts. Unfortunately, with new models, there aren’t a lot of ways to minimize data collection. Some models even require the use of an app. You can request a copy of your own Consumer Disclosure Report from LexisNexis for free , which lets you know what kind of data is being shared without your knowledge. Privacy4Cars built a useful tool to help consumers learn what kinds of data car companies collect , how that information is collected, and what policies the company has when it comes to privacy and data security. The tool offers advice on how to disable the features, apps and services that share more data than you prefer. It also has a form to request an opt-out from sharing personal data with third parties.

While more Americans are choosing Electric Vehicles (EVs), many consumers still have concerns over reliability and safety. The powerful batteries that make EVs run are at the center of these fears, with car buyers wondering whether hybrid and electric vehicles pose an increased risk of fire and explosion. Several recent incidents in Texas have made some Houstonians worried. This July, one of Amazon’s new electric delivery vans caught fire. In March of 2023, a Houston homeowner’s garage went up in flames when the charger for his electric Audi malfunctioned . And just this month, firefighters responded too late to the burning wreckage of a Tesla Cybertruck in a Baytown , where the blaze was so intense that the license plate, VIN and victim could not be identified. But how common are electric vehicle fires, and are they really more dangerous than other cars? Read on to learn the facts. Electric Vehicles are Less likely to catch fire According to the most recent statistics, traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) are actually far more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles , but slightly less likely to spontaneously ignite than hybrids. “Data from the National Transportation Safety Board showed that EVs were involved in approximately 25 fires for every 100,000 sold. Comparatively, approximately 1,530 gasoline-powered vehicles and 3,475 hybrid vehicles were involved in fires for every 100,000 sold.” Common causes of fire in gasoline-powered vehicles include: Collisions and wrecks Excess temperatures in hot climates Parking on top of flammable materials, like dry grass or autumn leaves Degradation of fuel lines and gas tanks in older vehicles But Electric Vehicle fires can be more dangerous While EV’s are less likely to catch fire, the intensity and duration of electric vehicle fires requires special consideration. Gasoline has a higher energy density than electric vehicle batteries, but the fuel is burned up quickly. Electric batteries have individual cells that store chemical energy, and can continue adding energy to a fire over a longer period of time. In some instances, electric vehicle fires have continued for hours despite intervention from firefighters . In Korea, a Mercedes with an NMC battery spontaneously ignited inside a parking garage caused severe smoke inhalation symptoms for residents . It’s important to note that the NMC battery used by this vehicle is a different battery chemistry than other Lithium Ion batteries employed by newer Teslas, Toyotas, and Hyundais, and this likely played a role in the ignition. “The explosion, which occurred in an underground parking garage, caused a fire that burned for eight hours. This incident resulted in significant damage to the building and vehicles, and posed a severe risk to public safety..” In response, apartment complexes and governments are considering bans on garage parking for electric vehicles – potentially limiting ownership in a country where most people live in dense urban housing. Compounding the problem are poor regulations and uneven enforcement, with many facilities lacking the automatic sprinkler systems that would be required in the United States. “My apartment’s management office informed me in late May that electric vehicles were being banned from parking on the premises.” Combating Electric Battery Fires Because of the unique challenges battery fires pose, including re-ignition after a blaze appears contained, many fire departments are developing novel techniques. While water is still recommended to prevent the spread of fire beyond the site of ignition, the water can also conduct electricity depending upon the battery chemistry. In some locations, especially away from municipal water mains, there’s simply not enough water to get the job done. One Tesla continued burning for four hours after 30,000 gallons of water was used. Some first responders are instead utilizing specialized fire suppressing blankets . Electric Vehicle Fires in Houston On July 1st, one of Amazon’s electric delivery vans caught fire in a Houston parking lot after being subjected to hours of 98 degree heat . While Houstonians may regard anything under 100 degrees as a mild summer temperature, the pressure can cause battery cells to corrode – both in internal combustion vehicles and in EVs. Fortunately the fire occurred outside, and HFD firefighters were quick to respond. The delivery vans, manufactured by Rivian, were added to Amazon’s fleet in July of 2023. How can I protect my family from Electric Vehicle fires? Understandably, questions about infrastructure availability, longevity, safety and cost are slowing the adoption of electric vehicles. Nevertheless, Americans bought over 1.5 million electric vehicles in 2023, and ERCOT expects that there will be 1 million in Texas alone by 2028 . Fires remain extremely rare, and more common in gasoline vehicles than in electric vehicles. But, if you wish to protect yourself further, make sure you follow some common sense safety tips. Make sure you park on clear, clean ground with no flammable material underneath. Maintain your vehicle and take seriously any warnings about coolant or overheating. Do not leave your vehicle running inside closed spaces or poorly ventilated areas Check the health of your battery regularly. Even if you do not drive an electric vehicle or hybrid, you should still visually inspect your battery for signs of corrosion that might indicate a leak, or irregular swelling – especially in hot summer months. While fires are rare, Texans' fears of danger in high temperatures are not unfounded. Manufacturers should do more to increase fire safety of their vehicles, increase cell resilience and adopt battery technologies that can tolerate Texas summers.