Electric Mercedes-Benz catches fire while charging in Korean apartment garage: sparks safety concerns

As electric vehicles gain more popularity, so will accidents related to them. An electric Mercedes-Benz in Suwon, South Korea, has been involved in a fire incident that led to the evacuation of residents.

The EV was charging while parked in a lot under a 15-story apartment complex. The fire started around 8:04 and spread to three other vehicles.

The city dispatched 19 firetrucks to contain the fire, with 57 firefighters engaged. The fire was brought under control in under an hour with the help of a fire blanket, but was completely put out by 10:16 am.

There were no fatalities reported, but an employee at the apartment complex inhaled smoke and required medical attention.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire outbreak. The EV model has not been reported.

The Suwon fire incident is the second involving an electric Mercedes-Benz in recent times in South Korea. An EQE sedan, which was not being charged, destroyed more than 140 automobiles after catching fire in an underground garage in August 2024 in Incheon. The thermal event led to the government deliberating on stricter safety regulations for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

Meanwhile, EV fires are relatively rare, even when compared to gas-powered models. Electric cars are 60 times less likely to catch fire than conventional gasoline cars, according to Fire Statistics. Tesla also reported one fire event for every 135 million vehicle miles travelled by its cars between 2012 and 2023.