Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a meeting of ministers at the Government Complex Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

The government decided Friday to mandate the disclosure of electric vehicle (EV) battery information and implement a string of other countermeasures to alleviate escalating fears of reported EV fires.

Under the new decision, the authority will move forward with an earlier test operation for the EV battery certification rule, scheduled for October. While the rule was initially set to be implemented in February 2025, the government has expedited the timeline in response to persistent public unease over recurring EV fires.

"The government will order EV makers to certify their battery information and mandate them to disclose key information, such as battery sources and their manufacturing technologies," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said.

Once the rule takes effect, EV manufacturers will be required to disclose detailed information about their batteries, including capacity, maximum output, and base materials.

The announcement came about a month after a catastrophic EV fire erupted in an underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon. During that incident, a Mercedes-Benz Korea EQE sedan caught fire, causing extensive damage to the facility and affecting more than a hundred other parked vehicles.

This incident has sparked calls for the government to strengthen safety regulations for EVs, as several other vehicles from different global carmakers have also caught fire, reportedly due to faulty batteries.

The authority has also mandated the installation of automatic sprinklers in all new building underground garages. Additionally, it will intensify monitoring to ensure that sprinklers in existing buildings are functioning properly.

EV makers are also required to install battery management systems (BMS) on older EVs free of charge and update the functions of all EVs already equipped with BMS. This system is designed to monitor and detect potential malfunctions in EV batteries in advance.

"We will enhance the sophistication of BMS and work to make it more widely accessible to customers," Han said.

The government also plans to expand the supply of smart EV chargers nationwide. These chargers are equipped with internal systems to prevent the overcharging of EVs, serving as an additional safety measure alongside BMS. According to the authority, approximately 71,000 smart chargers will be made available next year.

Starting next year, carmakers will be required to have liability insurance. Companies that do not obtain this insurance will no longer be eligible for EV subsidies.

Charred vehicles sit in an underground garage of an apartment complex in Incheon, Aug. 2, after a Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan caught fire. Yonhap

Experts and industry officials have stressed the need for the government to prioritize addressing and reducing ongoing EV-phobia.

"The latest announcement is commendable, but it still falls short in some areas. Key countermeasures, such as imposing a limit on EV charging in underground parking facilities, were not included," said Kim Pil-soo, an automotive technology professor at Daelim University College.

"On top of that, the government is also urged to take more proactive actions to address EV-phobia. These measures should include 3D scanning inspections of battery cells and enhanced EV education programs."

Carmakers welcomed the government's latest decision, noting that it is crucial for expanding EV sales and swiftly overcoming customers' distrust of electric vehicles.

"Carmakers are fully committed to transitioning to EVs, but the troubling EV fires have hindered their efforts," said an official at a carmaker. "EV manufacturers are eager to collaborate with the government to enhance the safety of electric vehicles and alleviate ongoing customer anxiety."