German luxury, Chinese battery: Fire calls for disclosures on key EV component
Summary
A fire sparked by a Mercedes-Benz EV that used a battery from a lesser-known Chinese company has led to calls for greater transparency from automakers on the batteries they use.SEOUL—The uproar over a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle that burst into flames in South Korea this month wasn’t only about fire safety. Outrage emerged over the lesser-known Chinese battery maker, Farasis Energy.
Now South Korea has a fresh proposal to ease public anxiety: Advising carmakers to voluntarily divulge what brand of battery sits inside their EVs.
Such information isn’t generally public knowledge globally, despite the importance EV users place on battery life and driving range. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries—should they catch fire—burn at far higher temperatures than fires in conventional gas-powered cars and are uniquely challenging for firefighters to tackle.
It is rare for EV makers in the U.S. to disclose a car’s battery brand. The European Union last year approved the creation of a mandatory “battery passport" for EVs, which details the manufacturer and where the materials are sourced. It will take effect in 2027.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s top policy office for government ministries recommended that automakers provide more transparency about EV battery brands. The group plans to detail a comprehensive EV safety policy plan next month.
In recent days, Hyundai Motor, Kia, BMW Korea and Mercedes-Benz Korea have voluntarily disclosed on their websites who makes the batteries their EVs use.
Even without disclosures, motivated consumers have been able to learn the battery brands by asking the carmaker directly, seeking out vehicle teardowns or reading media reports. Owners can also find out what type of battery is in their EVs when replacing it.
The Aug. 1 blaze unfolded in an underground parking lot, which are common in the densely populated country. It incinerated around 40 nearby cars and scorched around 100 others. Some apartment complexes have considered barring EVs from underground lots.
Local governments are exploring whether public charging stations shouldn’t charge EV batteries beyond 80% capacity, to reduce the risk of fires. Local media described the country as undergoing a sudden “EV-phobia."
The backlash from South Korean EV owners themselves largely centered on how the Mercedes-Benz EQE—whose prices start from around $67,000 in the country—was fitted with a Farasis battery.
Mercedes had foregone not only local Korean options but also better-known Chinese firms such as CATL. Fire risks from Farasis batteries were cited as a reason behind a 2021 recall by China-based BAIC of roughly 32,000 EVs.
South Korean authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the Mercedes blaze. Mercedes-Benz’s local office said it would cooperate with the investigation. Farasis didn’t respond to a request for comment.
