UK Mercedes EQA Fire Reignites EV Safety Concerns

With the recent incident of a Mercedes-Benz EQE fire in Incheon, South Korea which took over eight hours to extinguish and caused massive damages still fresh in everyone’s minds, yet another similar case has come to light, this time in England.

A Mercedes EQA SUV which, just like the Incheon incident, was not plugged in to charge, erupted into flames on a driveway, endangering the home of its owners in Spratton, Northamptonshire.

According to The Sun UK, the family’s terrifying experience, captured on CCTV, shows the EV sitting idle on the driveway for about 10 hours when it suddenly began emitting vapour from beneath the car. Within moments, and without warning, the vehicle burst into flames, with the fire quickly spreading engulfing the entire car, even though it was raining at the time.

The family rushed outside with a hose to try and douse the flames, while neighbours joined in to help which did not help.

According to the owner, “My son thought someone was setting off fireworks, but then there was a loud bang, like a bomb going off. Flames were everywhere. The speed and intensity of the fire were frightening – it took over the car and almost the entire front of our house.”

Investigators have found the vehicle so badly damaged that identifying the exact fault has been difficult. Based on CCTV footage, we can clearly determine that the cause was due to the EQA battery experiencing thermal runaway due to some unknown reason.

Now despite multiple cases reported which includes the EQB fire while the vehicle was plugged in charging in a dealership in Johor Bahru, no official report of the cause has been released by Mercedes-Benz.

According to The Sun UK further, the owner of the EQA also expressed frustration over what they feel was a dismissive response from Mercedes initially. “This isn’t just a minor defect. When electric cars catch fire, it’s explosive and terrifying. It continued to pop and fizz, like having a bonfire right at our doorstep,” Scott said.

In response, Mercedes-Benz has since contacted the family and is working with their insurance provider to investigate the incident. A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz stated, "We were deeply concerned to learn of this incident and have acted promptly to coordinate with the owner's insurer and arrange a full investigation of the vehicle. While the inspection is pending, we have offered Mr. Bayliss a loan vehicle as a gesture of goodwill."

The recent incidents involving the Mercedes-Benz EQE in South Korea and the EQA in England raise important concerns about the potential risks of lithium-ion batteries, even when EVs aren’t actively charging. While such occurrences remain statistically rare, their intensity underscores the need for transparency from automakers when investigating these events to help build consumer confidence.

Additionally, as EV adoption rises, it’s crucial for fire and rescue departments to be equipped and trained to handle such incidents effectively.