Government Holds Emergency Meeting on Electric Vehicle Safety Measures... Policy to Be Announced Next Month

As damages caused by electric vehicles continue, including the apartment fire accident in Cheongna, Incheon, the government held an emergency meeting and decided to prepare a comprehensive plan.

According to the Ministry of Environment on the 8th, the government will hold a meeting related to electric vehicle fires on the 12th, chaired by the Vice Minister of Environment, with participation from related ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the National Fire Agency. Based on the results of the meeting, the government plans to announce a comprehensive electric vehicle fire countermeasure early next month.

Electric vehicle fires are increasing along with the rise in their adoption. Following the recent electric vehicle fire in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Cheongna International City, Incheon, a so-called 'electric vehicle phobia' is spreading.

On the 8th, as electric vehicle fires continue, interest in electric vehicle safety is growing. At the entrance of an underground parking lot in Incheon, a notice prohibiting electric vehicles is posted. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Last June, the government included measures in the 'Plan to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Strengthen Safety' to construct underground parking lots with fire-resistant structures where electric vehicle chargers are installed and to mandate the installation of CCTV. To prevent overcharging, the Ministry of Environment has been providing a subsidy of 400,000 KRW for slow chargers equipped with charging limit functions since this year.