Concerns About Electric Vehicle Safety Rise After Incheon Fire in South Korea

Concerns Rise After Electric Vehicle Blaze in South Korea

The flames and smoke from a blazing Mercedes-Benz electric sedan quickly engulfed the underground parking facility of an apartment complex in South Korea earlier this month. This catastrophic fire resulted in damage to nearly 900 vehicles, with 23 individuals suffering from smoke inhalation. Firefighters battled the inferno for over eight hours, as temperatures soared above 1,500 degrees Celsius, according to local officials in Incheon, a city situated near Seoul, where the incident occurred around dawn on August 1.

While fires in electric vehicles (E.V.s) are significantly less frequent compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts, the cause of the Incheon fire has yet to be determined. Nonetheless, this incident has captured public attention across South Korea, one of the world’s leading automotive nations, due to its scale and intensity. It has sparked safety concerns that some experts believe could hinder the government’s robust initiative to promote electric vehicles.

In light of the fire, K Car, a popular platform for secondhand vehicle sales, reported a dramatic increase in listings from E.V. owners looking to sell their cars—nearly tripling since the incident. One prospective buyer, Lee Min, an office worker in Seoul, expressed her apprehension: “I know that E.V.s might be the more environmentally friendly choice, but I’m still afraid of it catching fire. I became even more scared after witnessing the Incheon incident.”

Media coverage and social media reactions to the fire have largely centered on the perceived risks associated with battery charging. In response, car manufacturers and government officials have made efforts to alleviate these anxieties. The municipal government in Seoul announced plans to implement new safety measures by the end of next month. They will restrict electric vehicles from being fully charged in parking structures beneath residential buildings, capping the charge at 90% capacity to mitigate the risk of overcharging. However, the effectiveness of this measure has been met with skepticism from various experts.