The government has taken steps to develop measures to prevent the recurrence of accidents following growing concerns over recent electric vehicle (EV) fires. After gathering opinions, the government plans to announce a comprehensive EV fire countermeasure early next month.
On the afternoon of the 8th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held an "Emergency Meeting on EV Fires" at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul. The meeting, chaired by the head of the Ministry’s Automotive Division, reportedly included participants from the automotive industry, automotive and battery experts, and fire safety specialists.
According to the Ministry, the meeting was organized to alleviate public anxiety. Although the Ministry does not directly oversee regulations related to EVs or batteries, it intends to support the development of effective measures by conveying industry and expert opinions during the government’s inter-ministerial process to establish comprehensive EV fire countermeasures.
The government plans to hold a meeting on the 12th, chaired by the Vice Minister of Environment, with participation from related ministries including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the National Fire Agency. Based on the outcomes of this meeting, the comprehensive EV fire countermeasures will be announced early next month.
Specifically, it is expected that the measures will include requiring automobile manufacturers to inform consumers by including EV battery manufacturers in the vehicle specifications guide.
On the 8th, as electric vehicle fires continue to occur, interest in the safety of electric vehicles is growing. At the entrance of an underground parking lot in Incheon, a notice prohibiting electric vehicles from entering is posted. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
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