South Korea introduces new EV charging restrictions after fire. See details

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In addition, public fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in the capital will be required to charge at 80 percent. These cuts will be introduced by the end of September. The regulations were introduced in the wake of an electric vehicle fire that broke out on August 1, 2024, in a Mercedes-Benz EQE, which damaged at least one apartment building and hundreds of cars. Surveillance footage shows the electric sedan parked and emitting white smoke, likely from a battery mounted on the floor. Moments later, it exploded, spreading the fire to other cars nearby.

Overcharging is not the only culprit

The Korea JoongAng Daily said such restrictions have been criticized as “a temporary regulation that is impractical and cannot fundamentally solve the problem.” Professor Yoon Won-Sub, who heads a battery research center at a South Korean university, expressed disbelief that such restrictions would work properly.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz EQE explosion sparks EV fire fears. See details

Professor Yoon says it’s not overcharging that causes lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles to catch fire. He said that electric vehicles are designed not to be fully charged, even when the dashboard shows 100 percent. This would mean that the alleged link between high charging levels and increased fire risk is in fact a myth.

Additional guidance coming soon

In addition to the charging restrictions, South Korean officials are set to announce further guidelines in early September that could force automakers to make battery maker data public and impose greater restrictions on charging, according to sources. Professor Yoon called the measures a “witch hunt” and called for a more holistic, expert-led solution to the crisis.

Date first published: Aug 25, 2024, 11:00 AM IST