Electric vehicle makers in South Korea are coming under pressure to disclose their battery suppliers after a major blaze that started in a Mercedes-Benz EQE parked beneath an apartment block in Incheon, west of Seoul, earlier this month.
The burning EV reportedly damaged dozens of other vehicles (some reports say 140) in the garage and firefighters spent eight hours putting out the fires. Nearby residents had to be evacuated.
Mercedes-Benz Korea disclosed on Tuesday the manufacturers of its EV battery cells amid mounting pressure from government and an increasingly concerned general public. The Mercedes EQE model uses cells produced by Chinese company Farasis Energy.
“All Mercedes-Benz EV batteries are manufactured by Mercedes-Benz’s 100%-owned subsidiaries, while various manufacturers supply battery cells,” the German carmaker’s Korean subsidiary said on its website. Other Korean EV companies are also naming their suppliers.
South Korea’s environment and transport ministries announced an emergency meeting to discuss fires involving EVs, including the blaze in Incheon. They are looking to draw up measures to prevent such incidents, according to local media reports. Many apartment blocks have basement parking garages. The government’s push for more transparency is to alleviate public anxiety over the safety of EV batteries.
But experts are warning that more information alone may not improve safety. Kim Jonghoon, a professor at Chungnam National University, has, according to the International Fire and Safety Journal, highlighted the need for advancements in battery management systems. They would provide earlier warnings and mitigate the risks associated with EV fires.
Forensic investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire. Mercedes-Benz’s Michael Christof told BEST the company was “deeply sorry for the incident” and it was investigating the vehicle thoroughly in cooperation with the authorities to determine the root cause so that the appropriate next steps can be taken.
