South Korea Discovers New Electric Car Battery, More Fire-Resistant

KatadataOTO – A recent fire involving an electric car in South Korea has caused a decline in public trust in these vehicles. Therefore, several studies have been conducted to restore a sense of security for users.

According to InsideEV, the potential for fire in electric cars is actually much lower than in conventional vehicles.

However, if a fire does occur, the battery situation becomes more dangerous. This is because lithium-ion cells cannot be extinguished quickly.

Fortunately, researchers from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology have developed a Lithium Metal Battery that has a longer lifespan than a Lithium-Ion Battery. They state that the battery's condition is still at 87.9 percent even after 1,000 life cycles.

Photo : Reuters

Not only that, scientists have also created a battery that can extinguish fires on its own when one occurs. This is achievable due to a special design during its development,

“This research makes a significant contribution to the battery industry,” said Dr. Kim Jae-hyun, Head Researcher at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in his press release (06/01).

Interestingly, the use of this battery is not limited to electric cars. Smartphones, which have been using lithium-ion batteries, can also benefit from it.

In August 2024, a Mercedes-Benz EQE in South Korea caught fire, causing dozens of other vehicles to be burned as well. Residents of the apartment where the car was parked had to be evacuated to avoid the worst-case scenario.

State officials immediately held an emergency meeting with manufacturers. In the meeting, several new rules were decided upon. Although still only proposals, it is likely that manufacturers will have to disclose the brand of battery they use in their units.

Photo : Wuling

In addition, the government revised regulations for firefighting equipment. One of these is to install water pipe sprinkler systems in underground parking lots and electric vehicle charging stations.

The fire incident has hit the South Korean electric vehicle industry hard. EV owners even seemed to panic and immediately sold their units through various platforms.

As a result, the resale price of used electric cars plummeted from normal levels.