Bomba on EV Fire: Rare But A Growing Concern

“Malaysia has yet to record any electric vehicle (EV) fire incidents at petrol station charging facilities, despite growing public concerns,” Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad recently confirmed.

He also emphasised that EV fires remain significantly lower in risk compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle fires.

He acknowledged that while EV fire incidents are rare, they pose unique challenges due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can reignite within 72 hours after being extinguished, making them harder to manage once a fire starts.

Although petrol stations have remained free from EV fire incidents, Malaysia did record one case in Johor. On Dec 31, 2023, a Mercedes-Benz EQB caught fire while charging at a dealership in Johor Bahru. The Energy Commission of Malaysia (EC) later revealed that the EV charging station was operated by an unlicensed company.

According to Bomba, further investigation determined that the fire was not caused by the power supply or the charging unit. Instead, it resulted from pre-existing damage within the battery capsule, which led to a short circuit between cells.

The question however is does the “short circuit between cells” aligns with a recall issued by Mercedes-Benz U.S regarding the Farasis battery management system (BMS) - we would not know as Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has to date not issued any official press statement on this matter despite offering the most number of EV in its range.

Mercedes-Benz U.S’s recall highlighted vulnerabilities in early production units, which, combined with external factors such as electrical current fluctuations or mechanical damage, could compromise battery stability at high charge levels. The culprit identified was the BMS.

Based on Bomba's quick response to the EQB fire and the speed in while the flames were extinguished it is a doubt the fire escalated into a thermal runaway situation. Had it reached that stage, extinguishing the fire would have been much more difficult, as seen in the Mercedes EQE fire in South Korea.

The Malaysian EV Owners Club (MyEVOC) raised concerns on social media about the absence of a proper public statement or a recall notice from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia regarding the Farasis batteries and BMS issues.

The recall in the U.S. and South Korea only required a BMS software update, and users were advised not to charge their vehicles beyond 80% to mitigate risks.

However, one crucial “advancement” from the EQB fire was the call from authorities to develop stringent safety guidelines for new EV charging projects, ensuring adherence to global best practices.

To this Nor Hisham assured that Bomba has given special attention to basement parking areas, where EV fires pose greater challenges due to confined spaces.

He also highlighted future risks related to battery replacements. With EV batteries typically lasting between 10 to 15 years, he anticipates potential safety issues if substandard or uncertified batteries enter the market.

While Bomba affirms its preparedness to tackle these challenges, it is worth noting that discussions on this matter are already underway at the National Electric Vehicle Steering Committee (NEVSC) level.

The committee is exploring the implementation of EV Battery Passports, which would require all EV batteries to have a unique ID for tracking and recycling as part of the circular economy.

It remains to be seen whether Bomba will align with this initiative or introduce its own guidelines to regulate the safety and management of EV batteries.

Source: Sarawak Tribune