SEOUL — Vice ministers from various government agencies are set to hold an emergency meeting this week to tackle increasing safety issues surrounding electric vehicles, the government announced on Monday. The Office for Government Policy Coordination will preside over the discussions scheduled for Tuesday, aimed at formulating strategies to mitigate the risks of electric car fires.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting will involve vice ministers from the transportation and environment ministries, among others, as they deliberate on respective measures to counter the recent surge in electric vehicle-related incidents. This collaborative effort follows a directive from President Yoon Suk Yeol for "swift measures" to address public apprehensions, which escalated after a parked electric Mercedes-Benz ignited earlier this month, destroying a parking structure in Incheon and causing widespread damage and injuries.
The explosion not only resulted in numerous hospitalizations due to smoke inhalation but also led to significant vehicle and property damage, prompting temporary relocations of residents affected by subsequent utility disruptions. The government's upcoming countermeasures will likely encompass stricter management of electric vehicle handling and enhancements to charging infrastructure to ensure safety. Among the proposed actions is a new regulation by the transportation ministry requiring electric vehicles to list battery manufacturers in their specifications, and a Seoul city government initiative advising apartment complexes to restrict the parking of fully charged electric vehicles in subterranean garages.
Further considerations include the adoption of advanced charging systems equipped with communication features to prevent overcharging and revising installation standards for such devices to improve accessibility for emergency services. Additionally, fire authorities are exploring the possibility of augmenting sprinkler systems in parking facilities to improve fire response capabilities.