South Korea is urging automakers working within the nation to reveal the producer of batteries utilized in electrical automobiles (EV) as authorities attempt to calm fears over fires involving EVs, after a latest blaze in an underground parking zone that took eight hours to place out.
Specialists say extra may be achieved, nonetheless, noting that whereas figuring out the particular maker of batteries utilized in EVs would give shoppers extra alternative, there’s a lack of definitive knowledge on which manufacturers are most susceptible to fires.
Listed here are some particulars on what we learn about EV fireplace security issues:
WHY HAVE EV FIRES HIT THE HEADLINES IN SOUTH KOREA?
A hearth on Aug. 1, which appeared to start out spontaneously in a Mercedes-Benz utilizing Farasis Vitality’s batteries parked within the metropolis of Incheon, took greater than eight hours to place out, destroying or damaging about 140 vehicles and forcing some residents within the residences above to maneuver to shelters.
Pictures of the aftermath of the blaze confirmed dozens of charred automobiles with solely metallic frames remaining.
Officers mentioned the fireplace was made worse as a result of tools resembling sprinklers within the parking zone didn’t work correctly.
The blaze pushed the federal government to carry a collection of conferences to attract up measures to stop such incidents.
WHAT DOES DATA SHOW ABOUT EV FIRES?
EVs don’t seem to catch fireplace almost as a lot as latest headlines would possibly recommend.
In the USA, EVs caught fireplace at a charge of 25 per 100,000 items bought, in contrast with 1,530 for gasoline-powered automobiles and three,475 for hybrids, in keeping with a examine performed by insurance coverage firm AutoInsuranceEZ revealed in 2023 utilizing knowledge from the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
South Korea noticed 72 fires involving EVs final 12 months, up 200% from 24 in 2021, in keeping with the Nationwide Hearth Company.
The variety of fires per 10,000 EVs was 1.3 final 12 months in South Korea, in contrast with 1.9 for inside combustion engine-powered automobiles, in keeping with the Science & Know-how Coverage Institute.
Practically one in 5 vehicles bought globally in 2023 was electrical, in keeping with the Worldwide Vitality Company, with almost 14 million bought, principally in China, Europe and the USA. This took the full variety of EVs on the street to 40 million.
WHY CAN EV FIRES BE HARDER TO TACKLE?
Auto consultants say EV battery fires burn in another way than fires in inside combustion engines, usually lasting longer and being more durable to extinguish as they generally tend to reignite.
EVs are propelled by lithium-ion batteries, which might retailer an enormous quantity of vitality. If a battery is breached, or has a design drawback or inside short-circuit, a hearth may end up from a series response often known as thermal runway.
The flammable chemical substances can launch their very own oxygen as they burn, permitting EV fires to reignite hours and even days after they seem to have been put out, say consultants.
WHAT MAKES SOUTH KOREA PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO EV FIRES?
South Korea is likely one of the most densely populated nations on the earth. Greater than 60% of its 50 million individuals stay in residences or different multi-household dwellings, authorities knowledge exhibits, usually utilizing underground parking with EV charging stations.
“South Korea’s considerably distinctive setting, resembling a lot of vehicles parked in a closed house on the similar time, might make it harder to place out a hearth,” mentioned Jegal Yeong-soon, professor at Kyungil College’s College of Hearth Security.
WHAT MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE RISKS?
In latest days, corporations resembling Hyundai Motor, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Kia Corp. and Volkswagen Korea have began figuring out their battery suppliers.
Analysts say this doesn’t go far sufficient to cut back fireplace dangers, highlighting a necessity for higher battery administration methods, in addition to extra refined and early warnings and stronger fireplace security measures for parking tons.
Moon Hak-hoon, an automotive engineering professor at Osan College, mentioned authorities also needs to create a certification scheme to assist assure the protection of EV batteries.
Kim Jonghoon, a professor at Chungnam Nationwide College finding out EVs, mentioned stopping EV house owners from totally charging batteries might lower fireplace dangers as there have been extra instances of fires when the battery is over 90% charged, although he notes carmakers seeking to obtain longer ranges will doubtless oppose this.
Kim sees a possible short-term adverse affect on South Korean EV gross sales due to issues over the latest fires, however is optimistic in regards to the transition to EVs long term.
The variety of functions by individuals eager to promote EVs in South Korea rose 184% between Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 from per week earlier, in keeping with used-car buying and selling platform Okay Automobile 381970.KS.
(Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Ju-min Park; modifying by Ed Davies and Christian Schmollinger)
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