Electric vehicle standards have become a costly lesson behind battery fire causes. Experts believe Thailand's management system still needs improvement, while repair knowledge remains limited.
Electric vehicles have become a new issue in Thai society, with luxury EV recalls to boost safety and recent fires on roads sparking public attention. As EV registrations surge, questions arise whether Thailand's legal infrastructure and safety standards keep pace with advancing technology.
Thairath Online special team spoke with Dr. Natthaporn Buayem, a TDRI academic expert in battery systems and EVs, and Dr. Atichat Rojanakorn about electric vehicle safety.
Dr. Atichat said that overall Thailand maintains fairly modern EV standards, mostly international safety standards from the United Nations for electric vehicles (EVs) under UNR100. The Department of Land Transport's 2022 announcement mandates UNR100 Revision 2 focusing on Passive Safety—ensuring no immediate fire after crashes and protection against side, front collisions, and falls from heights.
EVs under UNR100 Revision 2 have a certain safety level, but EV-developing countries use Revision 3, applied in Europe and Australia. Revision 3 emphasizes Active Safety with warnings before incidents, such as better heat dissipation in batteries and alerts 5 minutes prior to enable evacuation. Within 2 hours of fire, measures prevent explosions, as EVs may not explode immediately after accidents but could combust after 1-2 days.
In China, more advanced technology is enforced under GB38031-2025, similar to UNR100 Revision 3 but superior. It prevents battery fires and explosions within 2 hours, keeping undercarriage battery temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius. This new standard is shaking the global EV industry.
From a business perspective, there is a push to develop battery technology to compete and meet safety policies like China's. Thailand should mandate more comprehensive battery safety standards to better protect consumers.
Dr. Natthaporn said it depends on the experience of technicians replacing batteries, as batteries are large boxes requiring care not to damage other parts when removed. China certifies technicians' skills, but Thailand currently lacks this, with only the Department of Skill Development training a few dozen people.
Dr. Atichat added that degraded batteries pose risks if replacements are delayed and overcharged beyond their capacity, becoming a time bomb under the vehicle. Removing the battery and storing it at service centers also creates a risk of explosion there. Additionally, if disposal is handled by unauthorized or illegal waste companies, explosions could occur.
Dr. Atichat explained that some battery cells have factory defects hard to detect because software cannot monitor such small anomalies.
Charging generates heat, and defective cells charged beyond 70% can overheat, triggering thermal reactions. Thus, limiting charging to 70% controls battery temperature to prevent overheating.
Asked if causes other than batteries exist, Dr. Natthaporn said multiple cases occur both for parked vehicles and moving cars, likely involving charging systems combined with existing battery issues.
Currently, Thailand has no manual for handling EVs affected by floods or accidents. Hypotheses include battery defects, software errors, or unsupported charging methods.
Dr. Natthaporn noted this year rising oil prices and other factors boosted motor show bookings by 70% over last year, with over half being EVs. Given the number of vehicles and incidents, the public’s confidence remains largely unchanged. The government must elevate EV safety standards.
Dr. Atichat concluded that current EV issues are unlikely isolated cases; more will emerge as EVs are still developing and errors are expected.
These events serve as valuable lessons on consumer impact, government support, company compensation, and proper disposal of removed batteries.
“I’m not saying EVs are bad, but issues like these happen with all vehicles worldwide. They are inevitable. The key is how we manage and respond to them.”