The measures were announced following Sunday's meeting among high-level officials from the presidential office, relevant government branches and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to address growing safety concerns after a fire involving a Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Aug. 1.
The EV exploded in the underground parking garage of an apartment complex, causing a fire that injured around 20 people and damaged over 100 cars.
The government plans to announce a comprehensive EV safety management plan in early September.
After the meeting at the prime minister’s official residence, PPP spokesperson Han Zeea announced the officials agreed to implement stricter regulations, including mandatory disclosure of battery suppliers.
Recently, EV manufacturers and sellers have voluntarily disclosed such information at the government’s request.
They also agreed to expedite the government certification of batteries. Originally scheduled for February 2025, the system will be implemented on a trial basis starting in October. Under this program, only government-approved EV batteries will be allowed for sale.
To minimize damage from potential EV fires, the installation of wet sprinkler systems will be mandated in all newly constructed underground parking facilities, Han said.
The government also plans to expand the deployment of battery management systems (BMS) capable of remotely diagnosing battery conditions and alerting consumers and manufacturers to potential issues.
Fire departments nationwide will be equipped with specialized EV fire suppression equipment, while the development of unmanned firefighting vehicles for underground spaces is being considered as a long-term project, the spokesperson said.
