[Column] Seoul City Should Not Fuel the 'Electric Vehicle Phobia'

"The policy limiting electric vehicle charging amounts is similar to saying, 'There won't be an accident until you fly 100 times, but there might be an accident around the 101st time.'

At the National Assembly's 'Electric Vehicle Fire Prevention' forum held on the 2nd, Professor Han Se-gyeong of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Kyungpook National University criticized Seoul's electric vehicle charging limit policy using this analogy, drawing many nods of agreement. Professor Han strongly criticized, saying, "Binary logic has spread perceptions like 'electric vehicle charging amounts are okay up to a certain point, but not beyond that.'

As some local governments, including Seoul, push for a plan to allow only electric vehicles with battery charge levels below 90% to access underground parking lots in apartment complexes, criticism is growing mainly among experts.

The biggest problem with Seoul's policy is that it is not based on science. Generally, battery charge levels can affect the scale or duration of a fire proportionally to the total heat generated. However, the causes of battery fires are mostly internal short circuits due to battery cell manufacturing defects or external shocks, which are unrelated to the charge level itself. There have been no cases of electric vehicle fires caused by overcharging.

Academics participating in the forum, including Professor Han, commonly expressed the view that specific electric vehicle charge levels do not have a significant impact on fires. Professor Lee Jong-won of Hanyang University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering also pointed out, "Electric vehicle charge levels do not reach 100% of the actual battery capacity because a 'safety margin' is maintained, and overcharging is prevented and controlled through the Battery Management System (BMS)," calling it a "policy lacking scientific basis."

Seoul's 'electric vehicle charging limit policy' has a significant ripple effect because it is the most influential local government. Cases restricting electric vehicle access are increasing. Some government offices, hospitals, and apartment complexes have blocked electric vehicles from underground parking or cut off electricity supply to chargers.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the main agency responsible for electric vehicle safety, has issued guidance asking, "Please be careful not to cause inconvenience to residents or unnecessary conflicts among residents due to restrictions on electric vehicle parking promoted by apartment complexes themselves." Minister Park Sang-woo also emphasized last month, "We will actively participate in discussions to prevent local governments from independently implementing battery charge rate restrictions."

Of course, it cannot be guaranteed that electric vehicle batteries are 100% safe. No power source in the world is. As this market is still emerging, electric vehicle manufacturers and battery companies must prioritize safety above all.

Local governments responsible for citizens' safety are no different. However, safety must be handled rationally based on science and facts. It should not be treated as a political tool just because public opinion is heated. Rather, efforts to expand facilities to prevent fires seem necessary. The issue of sprinkler malfunction, which was the main cause of the fire damage in the Incheon underground parking lot, must be inspected, and additional support for fire authorities is also needed.

Electric vehicles and batteries are the future growth engines of our industry. Even though concerns about electric vehicle fires have increased, local governments should not promote 'phobia' through immature policies.

Jung Dong-hoon, Industrial IT Department Reporter