China Orders Fire Safety Checks on EVs
Concerned about reports of electric car fires, regulators in China have ordered manufacturers to test their cars for potential hazards, Bloomberg News reports.
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Concerned about reports of electric car fires, regulators in China have ordered manufacturers to test their cars for potential hazards, Bloomberg News reports.
The news service says China recorded at least 40 fires last year that involved electrified vehicles. The government’s State Administration for Market Regulation ordered the recall of more than 130,000 such vehicles in 2018 because of quality-related issues.

Now the agency wants carmakers to check EV batteries, high-voltage wiring, waterproofing and onboard charging systems in new and already-sold vehicles. Producers are to report their findings by the end of October.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded two years ago that EVs are no more prone to fires than are vehicles powered by fossil fuels. But the agency also noted that EV technology is newer, still developing and not subject to standardized measures of performance.
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