South Korea overhauls EV safety standards after Mercedes Benz inferno

South Korea is accelerating its plans for a comprehensive EV battery certification program. The move comes after a fire involving a Mercedes-Benz electric car on August 1, 2024, which caused significant damage and widespread public anxiety.

The People Power Party (PPP) announced on Sunday that the government would launch the certification scheme in October, earlier than initially planned. “We aim to ensure the highest safety standards for EV batteries,” said Han Zeea, a spokesperson for the PPP. The scheme will require automakers operating in South Korea to identify the batteries used in their vehicles.

The urgency of this initiative follows a devastating fire in an underground parking lot in Incheon, which took eight hours to control. The fire, which started in a Mercedes-Benz equipped with batteries from Farasis Energy, destroyed or damaged around 140 vehicles and forced residents in nearby apartments to seek temporary shelter.

The incident has spurred some car manufacturers to voluntarily disclose the origin of the batteries they use. However, industry insiders caution against jumping to conclusions.

As part of the enhanced safety measures, the South Korean government plans to revise regulations to require the installation of wet pipe sprinkler systems in underground parking areas with EV charging stations. Additionally, efforts will be made to expand the use of chargers designed to prevent overcharging, which can lead to fires.

Despite the recent incidents, data suggests that electric vehicles pose a lower fire risk compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. However, experts emphasize that EV fires tend to burn longer and are more challenging to extinguish, often reigniting even after being put out.

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