Authorities inspect the arrangement of electric vehicle charging stations in the apartment building's basement in Phu Thuan ward (HCMC) - Photo: MINH HOA
Regarding the investor in Ho Chi Minh City issuing a document warning old apartment buildings to review the basement electrical system due to electrical safety risks and the risk of fire and explosion when charging electric vehicles in the apartment building, Tuoi Tre Online had an interview with Mr. Bui Trung Kien - Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation.
The main causes of fire and explosion when charging electric vehicles
According to Mr. Kien, although the charging capacity of an electric vehicle such as a bicycle or electric motorbike is not too large (except for electric cars with large charging capacity), if there are many vehicles charging at the same time but the electrical system is not safe or using poor quality charging equipment and batteries, etc., there are also potential risks of fire and explosion not only in apartments but also in private homes.
Mr. Kien said the main causes of fires related to the vehicle charging process can be listed as follows:
First , poor contact between the charging cord and the power outlet, especially when left charging for a long time.
Second , the market today has many floating chargers, not guaranteed quality, unknown origin leading to device damage and fire during use.
Third , due to the explosive growth of electric vehicles, many vehicles have been used for many years, so there are problems with battery quality. Many people buy car batteries (especially Lithium-ion batteries) and floating batteries, without a brand, without quality inspection, leading to a high risk of fire and explosion.
Fourth , charging multiple vehicles at the same time into one outlet can overload the outlet, leading to fire and explosion. In particular, the habit of charging vehicles overnight leads to fire and explosion risks that are difficult to detect and handle promptly.
Finally, for houses with electrical systems that have been used for too long, resulting in electrical lines and circuit breakers that are not periodically checked, there is a potential risk of fire in general, not just when charging electric vehicles.
Limit unsupervised overnight car charging
To avoid fire and explosion risks related to the use of electricity in general and charging electric vehicles in particular, the electricity industry warns of safety when using electrical equipment, chargers, batteries, accumulators, etc. that are of guaranteed quality and reputable.
Authorities also need to inspect, review and issue specific regulations to limit the proliferation of poor quality products on the market.
In addition, Mr. Kien said that it is necessary to ensure good contact between the charger and the power outlet, not to use one outlet for many vehicles, to install a circuit breaker (CB) to prevent incidents and to limit unsupervised overnight charging of vehicles.
"Especially for houses with long-standing electrical systems, people should invite a professional to check the home electrical system such as pipes, wires, circuit breakers, etc. Note that large electrical devices need to have protective circuit breakers," said Mr. Kien.
Need to monitor and avoid fire and explosion in apartment buildings
For apartments, Mr. Kien recommends having a dedicated electric vehicle charging system with suitable capacity and separate protection devices such as anti-leakage circuit breakers.
Electric vehicle charging areas also need to be separated, have fire prevention and fighting equipment, have a monitoring system and even need to have monitoring personnel to avoid fire and explosion incidents.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nganh-dien-canh-bao-nhung-rui-ro-khi-sac-xe-dien-20250715122806688.htm
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