An electric vehicle battery certification program has been moved up in South Korea after an electric Mercedes-Benz caught fire, damaged 140 vehicles, and displaced residents earlier this month. 

Carscoops reports the Korean government and the conservative People Power Party (PPP) announced it will start the battery program in October. It says the program was set to begin in February 2025. 

“This will require manufacturers to get approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to confirm their products conform to local safety standards,” Carscoops says. “Previously, this had only been voluntary.”

Reuters also reports the government will require automakers to identify batteries used in their EVs. 

The Economic Times previously reported that OEMs voluntarily started reporting battery types soon after the Aug. 1 residential building fire. 

“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.”

EV fires have been making national headlines in the United States in recent weeks as well. 

Multiple national sources report EVs in a parking lot at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois plant caught fire over the weekend. 

Motortrend reports that a viral Facebook post shows about 60 Rivian electric pickup trucks and R1S electric SUVs cordoned off at the plant. It adds most show fire damage. 

“A source close to Rivian told MotorTrend the affected vfehicles had been set aside for scrapping, though other sources have said that the vehicles were awaiting repair,” the news site says. 

According to local news station 25 News, fire crews responded to the plant just before 9:45 p.m. Saturday. It adds witnesses said they saw the fire as early as 9:50 p.m. The news station also published video of billowing smoke coming from the plant property. 

Rivian officials told the news station that the fire damaged a number of vehicles in the parking lot but did not affect the plant. The company also said there were no injuries. 

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. 

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.

National Fire Protection Assocation 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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