South Korean officials are holding emergency meetings with automakers after an electric Mercedes-Benz appeared to spontaneously start a fire in a residential building, damaging 140 vehicles and displacing some of the people who lived there, according to Economic Times. 

Consumers in South Korea expressed fear after the Aug. 1 fire, spurring the government response, the article says. 

South Korea’s vice environment minister is leading a discussion with the transport and industry ministry along with the national fire agency, according to the article. Another meeting will include talks with Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea. 

New rules on electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to be proposed, it says. This could include a rule that requires OEMs to disclose battery brands. 

“The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters in a report published in February said 1,399 fires occurred in underground parking lots in South Korea between 2013 and 2022, with 43.7% attributed to vehicles,” the article says. “It said electrical sources accounted for 53% of car fires in underground garages.”

After receiving inquiries, Hyundai Motor Co. published the manufacturers of batteries used in the 13 EV models and three models from its Genesis brand, the article says. 

“Moon Hak-hoon, professor of automotive engineering at Osan University, said simply requiring car companies to provide the make of an EV battery would not prevent fire,” according to the article. “But what would be more helpful is to certify the fire hazards of fire hazards of each battery brand, he said.”

Dirk Fuchs, Electric Mobility Consulting CEO, said EV battery fires also aren’t uncommon in the United States. He tracked multiple EV battery fires that happened this past weekend. 

Last month, national media reported on a lithium battery fire that caused severe traffic problems for about 44 hours on 1-15, the main freeway between Las Vegas and Southern California. 

The fire started after a truck carrying large lithium batteries overturned near Baker, California. 

Fuchs said it is important that the repair industry develop a proper “measure method” for determining the stability and state of charge for EV batteries. 

This means more education on the how to work with the batteries, he said.

“We don’t understand,” Fuchs said. “We don’t have the education to do the right thing. We take the battery out and put a new battery in. How can we determine the state of the stability a little better?” 

Handling a battery without understanding its stability could cause fire risks. Repairers also have to understand the proper way to dispose of a battery. 

Fuchs said he was recently provided a battery for a demonstration during a conference that was full of water. 

“The battery was sitting outside and rainwater came into the battery,” Fuchs said. “If that battery was fully charged, we would have a fire. The only reason that battery didn’t start a fire was because it was a low charge.” 

OEM1Stop.com is an industry site, developed by automakers, that provides access to vehicle repair and service information including Emergency Service Guides for first responders, written by OEMs. The guides include proper battery removal and storage guidance and information about what should happen once the vehicle is brought inside the repair facility.

The Energy Security Agency (ESA) also staffs a 24/7 Guidance Center for first responders, towing and recovery, recyclers, salvage yards, and the repair industry to answer questions about properly handling EV and hybrid vehicles.

The center can walk through risk assessments and help each party label the vehicles with color-coded stickers that warn others of potential risks.

NFPA offers numerous EV training online for first responders and the general public, including training sessions for vehicle dealerships. The U.S. Department of Energy website also lists EV fire training resources.

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