South Korea is grappling with growing concerns over the safety of electric vehicles (EVs) following a major fire incident in an apartment building's underground garage.
The fire that occurred on August 1, involved a Mercedes-Benz EV and caused extensive damage, affecting approximately 140 other vehicles and prompting residents to move to shelters.
The fire took eight hours to extinguish.
This has become a critical situation when combustion caused by EVs is more difficult to control than combustion engine vehicles.
In response to growing public concern, South Korean authorities held an emergency meeting to address EV safety, particularly focusing on the transparency of battery information.
There is a proposal under consideration that would require automakers to disclose the brand of batteries used in their EVs.
The move comes after media reports and public concerns about the safety of certain battery brands, as well as similar incidents involving Kia EVs.
Although there are suggestions on measures to overcome the problem, experts think that simply revealing the brand of the battery may not be enough to prevent such incidents.
Instead, they support the certification of fire risks associated with different battery brands.
The South Korean government is expected to announce new rules soon, as they continue talks with major automakers such as Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
This situation emphasizes the need for more robust safety measures as the use of electric vehicles continues to increase in South Korea.
