Initially of January 2024, it was reported {that a} Mercedes-Benz EQB was consumed by hearth whereas charging at a dealership in Johor on new yr’s eve, with no accidents occuring within the incident. Later that month, the Power Fee (ST) launched a press release that the corporate working the charging bay was discovered to be doing so with out a license from the ST. Nonetheless, it was by no means disclosed what had triggered the mishap within the first place.
Greater than a yr later, the reason for what began the hearth has been revealed. This happened when Bomba Malaysia director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad talked about the incident earlier within the week when he was requested by reporters in regards to the threat of EV fires at charging services in petrol stations.
“Thus far, there have been no EV hearth circumstances at petrol stations. Nonetheless, we did file one case in Johor the place an EV caught hearth whereas charging at a service centre. Investigations with the automobile producer and our skilled staff discovered that the hearth was not brought on by the ability provide or charging unit, however reasonably pre-existing injury inside the battery capsule, which led to a brief circuit between cells,” he mentioned.
Following this, we reached out to Mercedes-Benz Malaysia to hunt additional clarification, and the corporate has responded with a press release on the matter.
“Concerning the incident of a Mercedes-Benz automobile catching hearth on the Mercedes-Benz showroom in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, the investigations by our HQ technical specialists, in cooperation with native authorities, have concluded that there are not any indications for a vehicle-related technical defect that may have precipitated the incident. In the meantime, {the electrical} system of the battery didn’t present any abnormality,” the assertion mentioned.
Apparently, the battery itself or {the electrical} system had no faults, however prior exterior injury seemingly precipitated an inner quick circuit to happen, resulting in the thermal runaway. Whereas a uncommon incidence, it highlights some extent that each one automakers must be ready for such incidents and look into introducing extra safeguards to warn customers.
The corporate mentioned that security was paramount in all its autos, electrical or in any other case. “As a matter of precept, Mercedes-Benz applies the identical excessive security requirements to all its autos. This is applicable to autos with standard combustion engines in addition to to these with various drive methods. Which means that the Mercedes-Benz autos meet all authorized requirements and norms.”
The model has in fact been on the forefront of electrification within the nation. Apart from having the best variety of BEV fashions on sale in Malaysia – EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE (sedan, SUV and AMG sedan) and EQS (sedan, SUV and AMG sedan) in addition to the Maybach EQS – it has additionally been increasing its EV charging community for its prospects on a gentle foundation.
Its dedication to an electrical future right here can also be highlighted by means of its proactive engagement with the federal government, and in public security with authorities equivalent to Bomba, completed by equipping rescue groups with the required information and instruments to handle EV emergencies.
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