Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Home Topics Transport Electric Vehicles (EVs) South Korea to hold emergency meeting after EV fires raise concerns
Electric Vehicles (EVs)NewsTransport

South Korea to hold emergency meeting after EV fires raise concerns

115
FILE PHOTO: A Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle is charged at Chaevi Stay Charging Station in Seoul, South Korea, October 18, 2023.   REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo
A Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle is charged at Chaevi Stay Charging Station in Seoul, South Korea, October 18, 2023. There is growing concern in South Korea over EV batteries catching fire, with government officials set to discuss ways to prevent such incidents. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

SEOUL – South Korea’s environment ministry said on Thursday it plans to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss fires involving electric vehicles (EVs), including a blaze that caused extensive damage, and draw up measures to prevent such incidents.

The ministry said the land and industry ministries will join Monday’s meeting as well as other state bodies, such as the National Fire Agency, adding that the government planned to announce comprehensive measures regarding EV fires soon.

The move comes as analysts warn that authorities and the EV industry need to find ways to allay public worries on safety in a sector already suffering a slowdown in sales.

Yonhap news agency said the government would unveil the new measures early next month.

Separately, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited an unnamed transport ministry official as saying South Korea planned to require EV makers to disclose the brand of batteries in cars.

Automakers in South Korea currently need to provide certain information about vehicles, such as fuel efficiency, but only limited details on batteries and do not have to name the manufacturers, the newspaper said.

The transport ministry declined to give an immediate comment on the report.

Fire fears

Last week, a Mercedes-Benz electric sedan with batteries made by Chinese company Farasis Energy caught fire in the underground garage of an apartment in the South Korean city of Incheon, according to media reports.

The blaze took more than eight hours to extinguish and damaged about 140 cars and 23 people were hospitalised due to smoke inhalation, Yonhap reported.

Mercedes-Benz Korea said in a statement it took the incident very seriously and planned to cooperate with authorities to determine the cause.

Farasis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters in a report published in February said 1,399 fires occurred in underground parking lots in South Korea between 2013 and 2022 with 43.7% attributed to vehicles. It said electrical sources accounted for 53% of car fires in underground garages.

“A series of EV fires occurring in underground parking lots have been linked to growing consumer distrust of EVs, which could prolong the current EV downturn,” said Esther Yim, an analyst at Samsung Securities, calling on the industry to come up with measures to reassure consumers.

Last month, Hyundai Motor said it would expand hybrid line-ups as demand for EVs eases globally.

Meanwhile, battery maker LG Energy Solution, whose customers include Tesla, General Motors and Hyundai Motor among others, cut its annual sales target on a slowdown in global EV demand.

Related Articles

Lilium burnt through huge sums while trying to develop its jet (AFP)

German flying taxi start-up’s rescue deal collapses

A German flying taxi start-up said on Friday it would halt operations...

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks as he attends a signing ceremony with members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

US energy council chief says power plants to produce 15% more electricity

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Interior Secretary and co-chair of...

Cuba has inaugurated a new solar energy park in the capital Havana (AFP)

Cuba opens solar park hoping to stave off blackouts

Cuba on Friday unveiled a new solar energy park in the capital...

FILE PHOTO: Cranes unload imported iron ore from a cargo vessel at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Iron ore heads for weekly gain on brightening demand outlook, China stimulus hopes

By Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson BEIJING (Reuters) -Iron ore futures prices...

Login into your Account

Please login to like, dislike or bookmark this article.