The decision comes after a Mercedes-Benz EQE caught fire in an underground garage at an apartment complex. The fire damaged 880 vehicles and left 1,600 households without electricity and water for a week.
By the end of September, Seoul will stop EVs charged over 90% from entering underground garages. The city will also limit charging to 80% at rapid chargers, including both city-operated and private ones.
Professor Yoon Won-sub from Sungkyunkwan University and Samsung SDI's battery research center disagrees with the new rules. He says there's no proof that fully-charged batteries are more likely to catch fire. Yoon explains that EVs never actually reach a full charge, even when showing 100%. He calls the regulation a "witch hunt" and wants experts to discuss better solutions.
Over the past three years, Seoul has seen 139 EV fires. Of these, 26 happened while charging, 68 while driving, and 36 while parked. The EQE fire occurred when the car was parked and not charging.
EV owners aren't happy about the new rules. They worry about having less range and question the science behind the regulations. Many think it's unfair compared to how gasoline cars are treated.
A Tesla owner commented on Korean social media:
"If gasoline-powered cars catch fire, will the government limit fueling to 90 percent? I can't understand how the government came up with such numbers like 80 and 90 percent; based on what proven data? If it's that dangerous, why has the government encouraged people to buy EVs in the first place?"
The city will put these new rules in place by the end of September, despite the mixed reactions from experts and EV owners.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
