South Korea to certify EV batteries after blaze ignites fears

Seoul issues strict rules to protect industry it sees as a key driver of growth

20240906N Korean EV fire

Firefighters in Seoul practice putting out an EV fire. (Yonhap via Kyodo)

NAMI MATSUURA, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- South Korea will start certifying the safety of electric vehicle batteries under a set of regulations unveiled Friday, seeking to address growing worries about battery fires and keep the country's fast-growing EV industry on track.

The move comes after an EV exploded in a parking garage at an apartment complex in August, causing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Extensive discussions between the government and the automobile industry were held after the incident.

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