"If Electric Vehicle Charging Rate Is High, You Can't Board the Ferry to Hometown"…Some Ferry Operators Restrict Boarding

Lower Charging Rate Leads to Reduced Thermal Runaway Phenomenon↓

As fears of electric vehicle fires grow, some ferry operators are reportedly restricting boarding based on the charging level of electric vehicles before the Chuseok holiday.

According to Yonhap News on the 14th, on certain routes in the Jeonnam Mokpo, Wando, Yeosu, and Goheung areas during the Chuseok holiday, electric vehicle loading is limited to a charging level of 50% or less. The ferries to which this policy applies include ▲Mokpo∼Jeju (2 vessels) ▲Jindo∼Jeju (1 vessel) ▲Jeju∼Chujado∼Wando (2 vessels) ▲Singgi∼Yeocheon (1 vessel) ▲Yeosu∼Yeondo (1 vessel) ▲Yeosu∼Jeju (1 vessel) ▲Songgong∼Heuksan (1 vessel), among others.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ferry operators limiting the charging level plan to have batteries discharged as much as possible if the charge exceeds 50%.

Wando Port (excluding the Jeju direction) recommends that electric vehicles have a charging level of 50% or less before boarding. Additionally, they encourage adjusting the charging level through banners and electronic signboards around the port and plan to widen the spacing between loaded vehicles more than usual to prevent safety accidents.

Goheung Nokdong Port also informs passengers via text messages to ensure that the charging level does not exceed half before loading electric vehicles on all routes.

An official from the Korea Marine Safety and Traffic Authority stated, “Due to the characteristics of electric vehicle fires, which are difficult to extinguish, large-scale casualties may occur if a fire breaks out on a ferry. Therefore, each ferry operator manages electric vehicle loading regulations based on the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries guidelines. We ask for passengers’ cooperation for a safe return and departure during the Chuseok holiday.”

This policy appears to be aimed at preventing incidents like the electric vehicle fire that occurred in the underground parking lot of an apartment in Incheon. Last month, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries established this policy based on the fact that the 'thermal runaway' phenomenon?where an overheated battery in an electric vehicle rapidly causes a chain explosion by transferring heat to surrounding batteries?is less severe when the charging level is lower.