S. Korea contemplates updated EV safety regulations following subterranean parking lot blaze
On Monday, South Korean officials convened to discuss growing worries regarding the safety of electric vehicles (EVs) following a recent incident where a fire in an underground garage caused significant damage to an apartment complex.
TroibNews 
South Korean officials met on Monday to tackle increasing safety concerns linked to electric vehicles (EVs) following a significant fire in an underground garage that impacted an apartment complex.
The incident took place on August 1, when a Mercedes-Benz EV reportedly caught fire spontaneously. This led to the destruction or damage of approximately 140 vehicles and forced some residents to seek temporary shelter. Firefighters battled the blaze for eight hours before it was finally extinguished.
In light of this incident and others, the government, under the direction of the vice environment minister, is contemplating new safety regulations. Among the proposals is a potential mandate for car manufacturers to reveal the brands of batteries used in their EVs. The meeting included representatives from the transport and industry ministries, as well as the national fire agency, with new regulations anticipated to be announced shortly.
On Tuesday, the transport ministry is set to engage in discussions with automakers, including Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea, regarding the proposed battery disclosure requirement. However, both the ministry and the automakers have not yet provided immediate comments on these developments.
The fire has intensified public worry, especially since many South Koreans reside in apartment buildings that feature underground parking facilities. This incident follows another EV fire earlier this month involving a Kia EV6 with batteries produced by South Korean manufacturer SK On.
Experts emphasize that fires in EVs are markedly different from those involving internal combustion engine vehicles, often burning for longer periods and posing more challenges when it comes to extinguishing them due to the risk of reignition. A report from the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters indicated that from 2013 to 2022, 43.7 percent of the 1,399 fires in underground parking areas were linked to vehicles, with electrical sources accounting for 53 percent of those vehicle-related fires.
(With input from Reuters)
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
The incident took place on August 1, when a Mercedes-Benz EV reportedly caught fire spontaneously. This led to the destruction or damage of approximately 140 vehicles and forced some residents to seek temporary shelter. Firefighters battled the blaze for eight hours before it was finally extinguished.
In light of this incident and others, the government, under the direction of the vice environment minister, is contemplating new safety regulations. Among the proposals is a potential mandate for car manufacturers to reveal the brands of batteries used in their EVs. The meeting included representatives from the transport and industry ministries, as well as the national fire agency, with new regulations anticipated to be announced shortly.
On Tuesday, the transport ministry is set to engage in discussions with automakers, including Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea, regarding the proposed battery disclosure requirement. However, both the ministry and the automakers have not yet provided immediate comments on these developments.
The fire has intensified public worry, especially since many South Koreans reside in apartment buildings that feature underground parking facilities. This incident follows another EV fire earlier this month involving a Kia EV6 with batteries produced by South Korean manufacturer SK On.
Experts emphasize that fires in EVs are markedly different from those involving internal combustion engine vehicles, often burning for longer periods and posing more challenges when it comes to extinguishing them due to the risk of reignition. A report from the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters indicated that from 2013 to 2022, 43.7 percent of the 1,399 fires in underground parking areas were linked to vehicles, with electrical sources accounting for 53 percent of those vehicle-related fires.
(With input from Reuters)
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
