KUCHING: Despite growing public concerns regarding electric vehicle (EV) fires, Malaysia has yet to record any cases of EV fires at petrol stations’ charging facilities.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that statistically, EV fire incidents are significantly lower and less risk compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
He acknowledged that while EV fire incidents are rare, challenges arise due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries which can reignite within 72 hours after being extinguished.
“To date, there have been no EV fire cases at petrol stations (in Malaysia). However, we did record one case in Johor where an EV caught fire while charging at a service centre.
“Investigations with the car manufacturer and our expert team found that the fire was not caused by the power supply or charging unit, but rather pre-existing damage within the battery capsule, which led to a short circuit between cells,” he said when met by reporters yesterday (Mar 19).
Yesterday, he attended the appointment ceremony of Koperasi Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (Kobopem) Advance Sdn Bhd as the Company Owned, Dealer Operated (CODO) operator of Batu Kawa Petros Multifuel Station at the Sarawak Bomba headquarters.
Nor Hisham assured that Bomba has introduced guidelines based on global best practices and regulatory standards to ensure that new EV charging projects adhere to stringent safety measures, including those located in basement areas.
“We have measures in place to contain EV fires and remove affected vehicles swiftly when incidents occur in open spaces.
“However, it is a challenge if fires were to occur in confined spaces such as basement areas,” he said, adding that most EV batteries typically last 10 to 15 years and there will come a time when users start replacing their EV batteries.
“We anticipate safety risks if substandard or non-certified batteries flood the market. Therefore, at that time, Bomba will be ready to handle these challenges,” he said.
