A recent fire in the basement parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon, caused by a Mercedes-Benz EQE electric sedan, is fueling a growing anxiety akin to “electric vehicle (EV) phobia.” The blaze caused at least 10 billion won ($7.33 million) in damage, affecting around 140 cars and disrupting tap water supply to 1,580 households and electricity to 470 households by damaging essential facilities.
National Fire Agency data shows the number of EV fires has been rising each year, with 72 incidents reported last year, up from 43 in 2022 and 24 in 2021. Over the past three years, there have been 139 EV fire cases. Of these, 68 occurred while the vehicles were being driven, while 36 happened while parked and 25 during charging.
The vehicle that caught fire was equipped with a nickel, cobalt and manganese (NCM) battery manufactured by the Chinese company Farasis Energy. In April 2021, Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. (BAIC) recalled 31,963 EVs with NCM-type batteries due to concerns that frequent and rapi
d recharging in high temperatures could lead to fires. Mercedes-Benz, which had signed a contract with Farasis in 2018 for the supply of 170 GWh of total battery capacity over the next decade, further strengthened its relationship with the company by acquiring a 3 percent stake in it. Farasis Energy now provides batteries for several of Mercedes-Benz’s models, including the EQA, EQB and EQE.
The Chinese government established a battery traction platform in 2018 to monitor the details of batteries. However, Korea does not have a similar system in place. In response to the recent EV fires, the Korean government held an inter-ministerial meeting yesterday to discuss potential measures. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for today to continue deliberating on the issue.
The presidential administration is reportedly considering requiring EV manufacturers to disclose information about the batteries used in their vehicles. A key concern is that approximately 3,000 cars equipped with Farasis batteries are still on the
road in the country.
The European Union plans to require automakers to disclose information about battery manufacturers starting in 2026. Some U.S. states are also considering adopting similar regulations. In response, the Korean government reportedly plans to urge EV makers, both domestic and international – including Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW Korea – to provide details about the batteries used in their vehicles.
Hyundai Motor already disclosed a list of battery manufacturers for its 13 EV models on Friday. Import carmakers like BMW and Audi are expected to comply with the Korean government’s request to reveal battery details. However, Mercedes-Benz has not yet clarified its position, stating that the investigation is still ongoing.
Considering the growing concerns about the potential for further fires, Mercedes-Benz should seriously consider voluntarily recalling its EVs equipped with Farasis batteries. If the company does not act on its own, the government should issue a recall order. Currently, the g
overnment has stated that a recall will only be possible if investigations determine that the fires are caused by battery or other vehicle system issues. However, obtaining a final investigation result can be time-consuming. For example, in 2018, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport only decided to recall BMW cars eight months after 40 vehicles had caught on fire.
Without a recall, the situation is akin to allowing a time bomb to remain across the nation. While the ministry has recommended Mercedes-Benz conduct special inspections on vehicles with these batteries, this measure alone is insufficient. Proactive steps are needed to prevent future catastrophic accidents. Mercedes-Benz should learn from Hyundai Motor and Kia, which voluntarily recalled 170,000 electric EVs in March as a precautionary measure.
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Source: Yonhap News Agency