Korean Mercedes-Benz Catches Fire Due to Chinese-Made Battery, Sparking Concerns

At the beginning of this month, a Mercedes-Benz electric car caught fire in an underground parking lot in South Korea, sparking concerns as the company later revealed that the battery of the electric vehicle (EV) was made in China.

The incident, which occurred on August 1st in an underground parking lot of an apartment building in Incheon, west of Seoul, resulted in approximately 40 cars being burnt and around 100 cars damaged. About 23 people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and some residents were forced to evacuate to shelters.

A spokesperson for the Incheon Fire Department told AFP: “Although the analysis is still ongoing, CCTV footage indicates that all signs of the fire suggest it was caused by the battery.”

On August 13th, Mercedes-Benz Korea disclosed that the battery in the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 involved in the fire was supplied by the Chinese manufacturer Farasis Energy.

In 2021, Chinese automaker Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) recalled about 32,000 electric vehicles due to the fire risk associated with Farasis Energy’s batteries.

Concerns over the quality of batteries in Chinese electric vehicles have once again been raised.

Taiwanese financial expert Huang Shicong stated on August 15th that while China produces the highest quantity of electric vehicle batteries globally, there are significant quality issues, especially concerning explosions or fires.

When lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles catch fire, the burning temperature is much higher than traditional gasoline-powered cars, posing a great challenge for firefighters. This is a result of the battery’s thermal runaway effect, which is an internal chain reaction.

Zhu Yuezhong, assistant professor of Finance and Banking at South Taiwan University of Science and Technology, told reporters that most global car manufacturers, including Tesla, use Chinese batteries. “However, China has many electric vehicle battery manufacturers, and there is a significant difference in quality.”

The Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 is priced at around $67,000 in South Korea.

Huang Shicong mentioned that many Western car manufacturers use Chinese batteries to reduce costs. “If there are no major accidents, they will continue to use Chinese batteries.”

To alleviate public anxiety caused by car fires, South Korea announced on August 13th that car manufacturers will be required to proactively disclose information about the batteries in electric vehicles. Comprehensive electric vehicle safety measures will be released early next month.

In the past week, several car manufacturers such as Hyundai Motor, Kia, BMW Korea, and Mercedes-Benz Korea have publicly disclosed the brand information of their electric vehicle batteries.

Last year, the European Union passed legislation requiring a “battery passport” for electric vehicles, detailing manufacturer and material source information. This regulation will take effect in 2027.

Zhu Yuezhong emphasized that car manufacturers should take responsibility for quality control and their supply chains. “It is the responsibility of each car manufacturer to conduct their own testing to maintain their reputation and brand. Governments cannot address specific quality issues effectively.”