Warning over common EV mistake after Aussie garage goes up in flames
It took just five minutes from the time the blaze was called in to firefighters arriving to find the entire garage engulfed in flames.
Australian EV owners have been warned again over using incompatible charging equipment after an electric vehicle travel adapter burst into flames last week — destroying the car, another beside it and a garage.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) released a statement warning of the potential dangers of using the wrong charger when trying to power up an EV, after the fire tore through a suburban garage in Glen Waverley in Melbourne last Tuesday.
According to the authority, it took just five minutes from the time the blaze was called in to firefighters arriving for the entire garage to be engulfed in flames. "Two people and a dog had evacuated the property before firefighters arrived," FRV said.
"Firefighters arrived within five minutes to find a garage, 10m by 5m, fully engulfed in flames. Crews wore breathing apparatus to battle the blaze, and the scene was deemed under control five minutes later."
The Fire Investigation Unit said the blaze was not caused by the EV but from a travel adaptor connected to an "aftermarket charging lead", being used to charge the car. To reduce the risk of fire caused by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, FRV recommended Aussie EV owners only purchase products from a reputable supplies and follow manufacturer instructions.
"Only use chargers and cords that are originally supplied with the device," FRV said. "Check that chargers have the Regulatory Compliance Mark, to show that they meet the relevant Australian Standards."
Experts say petrol cars are still more prone to combustion, with data suggesting the fire risk is between 20 and 80 times greater. Fire risks are also greater for electric scooters and electric bikes.
Over the weekend, rising EV maker BYD, was reportedly forced to recall nearly 100,000 of its vehicles in China over fire risk, according to a statement on China's State Administration for Market Regulation. The brand has been rising in popularity in Australia in recent months.
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