Korea steps up efforts to counter escalating EV-phobia

The windshield of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle is shattered after a fire, of unknown origin, erupted in an underground parking lot in Incheon, Aug. 14. Yonhap

Jitters over electric vehicle (EV) fires have been growing in recent weeks following a series of incidents where EVs have spontaneously ignited for unknown reasons.

Consumers are steering clear of purchasing EVs, and an increasing number of parking lots are refusing to accept them. In response, central and local governments are proposing measures for battery management. However, these measures are facing criticism from both carmakers and drivers due to uncertainties about their effectiveness.

The phobia began earlier this month when a parked Mercedes-Benz EQE electric sedan exploded suddenly in an underground residential garage in Incheon, causing extensive damage to over 100 other vehicles and the facility.

Several other incidents have followed, involving vehicles from various carmakers, including Tesla.

These incidents have been enough to raise concerns among drivers and parking lot operators, impacting the industry significantly.

"I feel a sense of unrest while driving my EV during the peak summer period, as EV fires make headlines day after day," an EV driver in Seoul said. "I live in an old apartment complex, so there is not enough space to park. However, the repeated EV fires are fueling public concerns that EV drivers should avoid parking their cars in underground garages, adding to the stress I feel when parking my vehicle."

Another EV driver, who only identified himself by his surname, also expressed regret over his decision to purchase an EV.

"I got my EV inspected by the manufacturer, and no problems were found," the driver said. "But I feel uncomfortable when parking the car in an underground parking facility due to the negative social attitudes toward EVs."

Some hospitals and commercial buildings have banned EVs from their parking facilities, leading to difficulties for visitors who drive electric vehicles.

According to data from market tracker Car Is You, EV sales in the first half of this year dropped 16.5 percent compared to the same period of 2023, while hybrid car sales surged 24.3 percent during the same period.

According to data from K Car, a used car sales platform, the number of EVs listed for sale surged 184 percent in the week following the EQE fire on Aug. 1, compared to the week before.

Against this backdrop, authorities are working to introduce stricter regulatory guidelines to address the growing fears surrounding EVs.

The central government decided recently to require carmakers to disclose their battery sources. Since the Incheon fire, most EV manufacturers have voluntarily provided their battery information, and this disclosure will soon become a requirement.

Starting in October, carmakers will also be required to obtain government certification for the safety of their vehicle batteries. This measure, originally set to take effect in February, has been accelerated.

Authorities are also talking to EV makers to require them to offer customers free battery safety inspections each year.

The government also plans to implement a range of additional measures to combat EV fires, including the rollout of approximately 90,000 smart chargers designed to prevent battery overcharging. Additionally, it is considering the mandatory installation of sprinklers in underground garages of new buildings.

Another notable measure introduced by local governments is to restrict EVs with a battery level above 90 percent from entering underground residential parking lots. Seoul and several other municipalities have announced they will implement this measure as early as September.

However, the measure has sparked controversy within the industry, as EV makers argue that most electric vehicles are equipped with battery management systems (BMS) designed to ensure safety.

They argue that EVs are technically designed to avoid being fully charged, with a safety margin of around 3 to 5 percent.

A fire drill is conducted at an underground parking lot of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government office in Suwon, Aug. 23. Yonhap

However, experts argue that the charging limit proposed by local governments is still a step in the right direction, as addressing the growing EV-phobia should be the top priority.

“Limiting the battery charging rate is one of the most realistic measures that the governments can take for the time being,” said Kim Pil-soo, an automotive technology professor at Daelim University College. “As the charge decreases, the energy density in batteries theoretically also drops, which reduces the risk of overheating.”

Overheating, also known as thermal runaway, occurs when a damaged battery causes the temperature and pressure within the cells to rise. This is a primary cause of EV fires.

Kim also emphasized that the focus should be on alleviating the growing public fears over EVs.

“Carmakers may not welcome the idea, but reducing public concerns regarding EV fires should be the top priority,” he said.

Other experts urged the government to take more stringent measures, such as blocking EVs from entering underground parking lots until the exact causes of the repeated fires are better understood.

“Limiting the battery charge is not enough, as it remains unclear exactly what is causing the EV fires,” said Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University. “The most effective measure for now is to restrict all EVs from underground parking facilities.”

Some European cities have implemented similar measures in response to EV fires. For example, since 2021, the German town of Kulmbach has prohibited EVs and hybrid cars from being parked in underground facilities.