The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s proposal to restrict access to underground parking lots for electric vehicles (EVs) based on their battery charge levels is facing intense backlash, with many claiming that it infringes on property rights.
The city announced on August 9 that it plans to revise apartment-related regulations so that only EVs with a battery charge of 90% or less will be allowed to park in underground apartment parking lots to reduce the risk of battery cells exploding and catching fire.
But EV owners argue that lowering the battery charge decreases driving range. They also criticize the government for unfairly shifting the responsibility of a potential fire onto consumers.
EV owners have voiced their frustrations about the city’s measure on online communities for three days as of August 11. “New apartments often only have underground parking, so this plan is essentially telling us not to own electric cars,” said a 41-year-old Tesla Model Y driver surnamed Son. “If these cars are so dangerous, why were they approved for sale in the first place?”
“If a car catches fire at 90% charge, will they lower the standard to 80% next? This new plan is just stigmatizing electric cars,” said a 37-year-old Hyundai Ioniq 6 driver surnamed Kim. EV owners also point to statistics showing that fires in EVs - 1.32 incidents per 10,000 vehicles - are less frequent than in fossil fuel vehicles - 1.47 incidents per 10,000 vehicles - questioning the rationale behind the city’s proposal. Critics also say the city’s measure is contradictory, as Seoul previously announced that it would ban the registration of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035.
They also argue that the one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for differences in battery types. Lithium-ion batteries typically contain nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) or lithium iron phosphate (LFP). While NMC batteries are generally recommended to be charged to around 80%, LFP batteries should be charged to 100% about once a week to maintain their performance and prevent imbalances, such as voltage differences between battery cells during use.
“The city’s measure essentially asks car owners to compromise the performance and lifespan of their EVs,” said a battery expert who requested anonymity. “The likelihood of fire also varies depending on the battery type, so applying a uniform standard is bound to provoke a backlash.”
