Comprehensive Measures Needed for Battery Issues
Full-Scale Introduction of Foreign Battery-Related Public Regulations
Following the recent electric vehicle fire incident in an underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Cheongna, Incheon, the government has begun formulating countermeasures. Meanwhile, some voices are calling for comprehensive battery safety measures not only for electric vehicles but also for electric bicycles and other battery-powered devices.
According to the Namhae Fire Station in Gyeongnam on the 12th, a fire broke out around 4:12 a.m. on the 11th inside a mill in Namhae-eup, Namhae-gun, Gyeongnam, from an electric bicycle that was charging. The fire department dispatched seven fire trucks and 18 personnel and extinguished the fire within 13 minutes of arrival. One bicycle was burned in the fire, causing an estimated property damage of 1 million KRW according to the fire station. There were no casualties.
About seven hours after the incident, around 11 a.m., a post presumed to be from the fire victim was uploaded to an online community. The author shared several CCTV footage and photos of the burned bicycle under the title “Beware of Electric Bicycle Fires.” The CCTV footage clearly recorded sparks suddenly flying from the bicycle battery, followed by the fire spreading.
The CCTV footage showed many glass bottles, presumed to contain sesame oil, placed around the mill floor. Toward the end of the video, smoke from the fire covered the camera, making it difficult to monitor the fire situation further. It was a precarious situation that could have escalated into a major fire.
The author began by saying, “The electric bicycle caught fire while charging early this morning. Around 4:12 a.m., smoke rose and sparks flew.” He added, “I used it well for deliveries. Since purchasing the bicycle at the end of November last year, there were no issues until today when it suddenly caught fire.” He also stated, “I charged it the same way I always did.” He sighed with relief, saying, “Thanks to a resident’s report, the initial suppression was successful, but if not, the store could have been completely burned down.”
Regarding the cause of the fire, a fire station official explained, “The bicycle was manufactured in July 2022, and the fire appears to have been caused by ignition during battery charging.” When asked about additional property damage or whether the fire spread to other buildings, the official said, “There was no damage to other properties. The report and dispatch were quick, and only the battery part of the electric bicycle burned, not the entire bicycle.”
Additionally, the author disclosed the online purchase details of the burned electric bicycle and said, “Since the bicycle was imported from China, I suspect the battery is also Chinese-made.” He raised his voice, saying, “All electric motors should disclose their batteries.” He expressed his displeasure, stating, “Don’t suffer damage like me. If you want to buy an electric bicycle, purchase one with a domestically made battery. I’m so angry that I can’t stop cursing.”
As electric vehicle battery fires have occurred repeatedly recently, the government held a meeting of related ministries on the 12th and began preparing measures such as disclosing information about battery manufacturers. However, only matters related to electric vehicles were reviewed, and battery safety for other mobility devices was not discussed.
Electric bicycle fires have increased annually from 2 cases in 2019 to 42 cases in 2023, with 51% of the fire causes attributed to “overcharging.” By location, apartment complexes accounted for the highest number of incidents at 48.9%. Furthermore, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, fire fatalities in apartment complexes (2014?2018) were concentrated in the early morning hours between 1?3 a.m. (44 deaths) and 3?5 a.m. (32 deaths). In particular, bicycles are often stored indoors at homes or offices due to concerns about theft and damage. If the previous mill fire had occurred in a home apartment during the early morning, it could have led to a major accident.
Meanwhile, major countries overseas are actively introducing regulations that mandate the disclosure of battery-related information alongside the spread of electric vehicles. California, USA, will implement a “battery labeling” system starting in 2026, providing consumers with information about battery manufacturers, components, voltage, capacity, and more. The European Union (EU) will officially launch the “Digital Battery Passport (DBP)” system in 2027, digitalizing information on the entire lifecycle of batteries including production, use, disposal, reuse, and recycling.
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