Safety First: Experts Warn of Electric Vehicle Fire Risks at Global Forum

As the global transition to electric mobility approaches a critical tipping point, experts emphasized that securing leadership in core safety technologies will determine whether Korea can emerge as a frontrunner in the future automotive industry. These insights were shared Tuesday at a global forum on green mobility in Jeju Island.

The Global e-Mobility Network Forum convened industry experts, academics, and government officials in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, to explore strategies for advancing Korea’s electric mobility sector. The event drew over a hundred attendees, including international delegates.

This forum served as an official prelude to the International e-Mobility Expo 2025, scheduled to run from Wednesday to Saturday in Seogwipo.

“With global competition intensifying, especially amid the rapid rise of Chinese battery and electric vehicle manufacturers, innovation to enhance competitiveness is crucial,” stated Jung Chang-ho, head of battery performance development at Hyundai Motor Group.

“Hyundai Motor is addressing safety through a multilayered approach that integrates both hardware and software. With this technology, we aim to differentiate our batteries, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to customer safety.”

Two other presenters – Park Yong-sun, director of the motor vehicle policy division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Lee Jong-wook, mechatronics professor at Korea University of Technology and Education – also underscored safety as a cornerstone of electric mobility development.

“As battery-related fire incidents have been reported due to various causes, ensuring battery safety has become a critical challenge directly linked to the technical credibility of electric mobility,” Professor Lee emphasized.

Electric vehicles, currently the fastest-evolving segment in e-mobility, are facing a slowdown in global demand, driven partly by public safety concerns. High-profile fire incidents have raised alarms, affecting consumer confidence in all types of high-voltage battery-powered mobility solutions.

In response, innovations are underway to enhance battery systems, including next-generation solid-state batteries and new pack configurations designed to improve thermal stability.

Alongside these technological advancements, forum participants also explored broader safety strategies, including real-time vehicle-to-network communication that can alert first responders to potential hazards. Electric vehicle inspection infrastructure and battery certification standards were also highlighted as key measures to ensure safety.

Following a panel discussion on e-mobility safety, which included the presenters and experts in law and media, the forum adopted a communique. It called for stronger links between policy and technological innovation, enhanced international cooperation, a unified approach to addressing the challenges of electrification, and the creation of a sustainable e-mobility ecosystem.