…apartment complex in Incheon. Just 59 hours later, on the morning of August 1 at around 6:15 AM, the vehicle began emitting smoke and subsequently exploded into flames. The fire resulted in over 140 vehicles being burned and 23 people being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation…
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the battery industry, the battery cell of the Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan that caught fire was a product of China’s Farasis. This battery is of the Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) type, though the exact model name has not been disclosed…
The recent fire in Incheon has reignited concerns about the safety of Chinese batteries, particularly those of the NCM type. An industry insider commented, “Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have proven their quality to some extent in the market, but NCM batteries are still newcomers.” Another insider added, “Unlike Korea, which spends astronomical amounts to improve battery yield, there are many doubts within the industry about China’s (NCM battery) technology and safety.”
The BYD Blade batteries happen to be very safe and they also happen to be Chinese. The first though that came to mind was ‘Thermal management.’ Early batteries didn’t have thermal management. There is more to this story than ‘Chinese bad.’
The Truth about EV Battery Life and Charging Best Practice ! | 4K
The article didn’t say how old the Mercedes was, but I think the EQE has only been out a couple of years. How long has the NCM technology been used?
The linked article does mention that: Farasis’ battery products have previously been subject to recalls in China due to fire risks. In March 2021, China’s state-owned Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) recalled 31,963 electric vehicles equipped with Farasis batteries, citing “the possibility of battery fires under certain conditions.”
My point is not that all Chinese batteries are good but that not all Chinese batteries are bad. Then there is the possibility of a good battery being used in a not for fit for purpose vehicle. This last is a good reason to favor vertical integration or tight control over the supply chain. Another possibility is faulty software managing the battery.
