Outrage ignites among Seoul’s EV owners over new charging restrictions post-Mercedes Benz fire

A Mercedes Benz car. Illustration photo by Pexels

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, these regulations also cap charging at rapid chargers in public spaces to 80%.

These safety measures were prompted by a fire involving a Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ on Aug. 1 in Incheon, which destroyed more than 140 cars and necessitated the evacuation of some residents to shelters, as reported by Reuters.

However, these new rules have sparked debate and criticism from the public and experts alike, who find them impractical and question their effectiveness in addressing fundamental safety concerns. Professor Yoon Won-sub, who teaches energy science at Sungkyunkwan University and also leads a battery research center jointly operated by the university and Samsung SDI, pointed out that the primary risk factor for EV fires is not related to the batteries.

“EVs, from the start, are designed to never reach a full charge, even if the dashboard says they are 100 percent,” Yoon explained. “It’s an unproven argument that batteries carry a higher fire risk when fully charged.”

Meanwhile, local EV owners contend that these restrictions violate property rights and diminish the vehicles’ utility by reducing their range.

For instance, under the new guidelines, a Tesla Model Y, which is certified by the Ministry of Environment to normally travel up to 350 kilometers when fully charged, would see its range reduced to 256 kilometers due to the new charging restrictions. This reduction has led to increased frustration, with one Tesla owner criticizing the government’s logic behind these specific limits of 80% and 90%, and questioning the ongoing promotion of EVs if they are considered hazardous.

The government, led by the Ministry of Environment, is set to release a comprehensive set of guidelines in early September.

In addition to the charging restrictions, other proposed measures include implementing graded subsidies and requiring EV manufacturers to disclose detailed battery information.