Safety woes grow in Korea as Chinese brands ready EV launches

[Courtesy of BYD]

Concerns over the safety of batteries manufactured by Chinese brands are growing ahead of an upcoming launch of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) in South Korea after a Mercedes-Benz electric sedan recently caught fire in Incheon.

In the wake of the blaze involving the Benz electric sedan two weeks ago, more Korean EV drivers have voiced increasing distrust of Chinese-made vehicles set to be released in the country. The Benz sedan is reportedly with batteries made by Chinese company Farasis Energy.

Several drivers share videos on social media platforms of crash tests between cars equipped with batteries from Korean producer SK on Co. and those with BYD batteries, fueling suspicions about the safety of Chinese-brand EVs.

With its plan to launch a battery-powered passenger car in South Korea later in 2024, BYD Company Ltd. stated it has no plans to delay the launch despite the concerns.

BYD Auto‘s flagship electric cars, notably Dolphin and Seal, are equipped with BYD’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The Chinese automaker asserts that its LFP blade batteries are especially fire-resistant.

Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding Ltd., the high-end EV brand of Geely Automobile, a leading automobile manufacturer based in Hangzhou, China, uses Qilin, the third generation of CATL’s CTP (cell-to-pack) batteries, in most of its models, including the popular Zeekr 001. CATL’s Qilin, which began mass production in 2023, features advanced cooling technology, according to the battery manufacturer.

However, critics note that neither brand has released detailed specifications for the models they plan to launch in Seoul.