South Korean Government and Ruling Party to Speed Up Electric Vehicle Battery Certification Program Amid Safety Concerns
TapTechNews August 26th news, according to Reuters, the South Korean government and the ruling party said on Sunday local time that they have agreed to accelerate the electric vehicle battery certification program. This is because after a series of electric vehicle fire incidents, the authorities are striving to alleviate public concerns about safety.
The spokesman of the ruling party in the country told reporters that the government will launch the battery certification program in advance in October to help ensure the safety of electric vehicle batteries. The South Korean government also agreed to require automobile manufacturers operating in the country to identify the batteries used in their electric vehicles.
After the electric vehicle fire on August 1st caused hundreds of cars to be damaged and triggered public panic, the government urged automobile manufacturers to voluntarily disclose relevant information. Before this, the government had already reached an agreement on stricter electric vehicle safety rules. And in recent days, some automobile companies have begun to actively announce the manufacturers of the power batteries carried by their vehicles.
In addition, as part of strengthening safety measures, the government will revise the fire equipment rules, install a wet pipe sprinkler system in the underground parking spaces where there are electric vehicle charging stations, and expand the chargers to prevent overcharging.
It is reported that although the fire risk of electric vehicles is lower than that of traditional vehicles, experts say that the way electric vehicles catch fire and burn is different from that of fuel vehicles, often lasting longer and more difficult to extinguish, because electric vehicles may have signs of re-ignition.
TapTechNews reported earlier this month that a Mercedes EQE electric vehicle parked in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Seoul caught fire, triggering a big fire. According to local media estimates, this fire caused 880 nearby vehicles to be damaged, and the power and water supply of 1600 households were interrupted for a week. In order to avoid similar incidents in the future, the Seoul municipal government is taking measures.
The Seoul authorities are preparing to formulate new regulations to avoid the risk of electric vehicle fires, prohibiting electric vehicles with a battery power of more than 90% from entering the underground parking lot. In addition to restricting electric vehicles with a battery power of more than 90% from entering the underground parking lot, the new regulations will also implement charging restrictions on the fast charging facilities in Seoul, with a charging cap of 80%.
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