A Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan exploded in the underground parking lot of a residential complex in South Korea, causing a large fire. The fire damaged 70 other vehicles, and 21 people had to be hospitalized for toxic smoke poisoning. Fortunately, the poisoning was not life-threatening.
The incident took place in Incheon, South Korea, and was caught on a CCTV camera from an underground parking lot. The video shows. An electric car is parked in the parking lot and not charging, and suddenly it starts emitting white smoke. Most likely, the smoke comes from the battery installed in the floor of the car. A few seconds later, the EQE catches fire, and the fire subsequently spreads to nearby vehicles.
According to the Incheon Fire Department, the fire broke out at around 6:15 a.m. on the first basement floor of the apartment complex. A total of 177 rescuers and 80 pieces of equipment were sent to the scene. Local media reported that it took 8 hours to extinguish the fire. It is known that electric vehicle fires are difficult to fight, although they occur less frequently than in cars with internal combustion engines.
Due to the heavy smoke, a total of 209 residents were forced to evacuate their apartments. Firefighters rescued almost half of them from stairs and balconies. 20 residents, including seven infants and children under the age of 10, were exposed to smoke. They were taken to the hospital along with one firefighter who was also affected by toxic smoke.
Law enforcement and firefighters have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The local Mercedes-Benz representative office announced that it would cooperate with firefighters to find out the cause of the incident. Experts suggest that the electric car could have been involved in an accident before the incident in the parking lot. As a result of the accident, the battery could have been damaged, leading to overheating. Although Mercedes has not yet been able to provide information on the exact model and battery of this electric vehicle, the EQE sedan uses a 90.6 kWh CATL lithium-ion battery.
Source: carscoops