The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) announced on May 22 that it held a fire prevention meeting for electric two-wheelers on May 21 in collaboration with the Seoul Fire Department and relevant associations and manufacturers.
The meeting aimed to create a safer environment for the use of electric two-wheelers.
As of the end of last year, there were a total of 2.26 million registered two-wheelers in South Korea, of which approximately 76,000 (3.4%) were electric. Although the adoption rate remains low, recent serious incidents involving electric two-wheeler fires in residential complexes have heightened the need for proactive fire prevention and safety management.
TS, in partnership with the Automotive Safety Research Institute, introduced the legal obligations of manufacturers and shared actual fire case studies and prevention technologies.
Starting this year, electric two-wheelers will be included in the 'Special Safety Inspection for Electric Vehicles.' This initiative, launched in 2023 in response to recommendations from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, aims to alleviate public concerns regarding electric vehicle fires and promote proactive fire prevention through a public-private partnership.
Last year, TS conducted special safety inspections on approximately 727,000 vehicles across 88 models in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and 14 domestic and international electric vehicle manufacturers.
Through these inspections, about 25,000 high-voltage batteries and electrical system anomalies were identified and addressed, and battery software updates were completed for over 260,000 vehicles.
Jung Yong-sik, chairman of TS, stated, "Electric two-wheeler fire incidents can lead to significant casualties, making proactive prevention efforts crucial. We will work to create a safe operating environment for electric vehicles through the expanded special safety inspections starting this year."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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