Caixin Weekly | How to Ensure the Safety of Electric Vehicles (AI Translation)

财新周刊｜如何保障电动汽车安全

The market for new energy vehicles (NEVs) is transitioning from a niche sector to mainstream. In September, NEVs accounted for 54.3% of China's new passenger car retail sales, maintaining dominance over fuel-powered cars for three consecutive months. As NEVs become more common, concerns about their safety, particularly their tendency to catch fire and the challenges associated with extinguishing such fires, have increased. In South Korea, a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle fire caused significant destruction and raised concerns extending to China, resulting in restrictions at certain public venues. Safety issues, including difficult-to-extinguish fires and problems with intelligent driving systems, are major concerns for NEVs [para. 1][para. 3].

Intelligent driving functions, intended to reduce accidents, sometimes lead drivers to rely excessively on these systems, leading to mishaps. Tesla's autonomous driving system drew scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after reports linked it to several accidents. The NHTSA found that attentive drivers could often avert accidents by taking control. Concerns are also raised from a study that suggests smart driving features might increase unsafe driving behaviors by 30% [para. 3][para. 5].

Electrification and intelligence symbolize significant changes within the automotive industry. Yet, unresolved issues concerning safety could stall NEVs' market expansion. To address these, Chinese regulatory authorities are developing new standards, tightening safety requirements. The revised "Safety Requirements for Traction Battery of Electric Vehicle" focuses on enhancing battery safety, with implementation expected by January 2026. Starting March 1, 2025, NEVs will undergo annual safety inspections, while new regulations aim to manage energy consumption for these vehicles more effectively [para. 6][para. 7].

Industry leaders emphasize the importance of NEV safety. Zeng Yuqun, Chairman of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., and Sun Huajun, CTO of BYD's battery subsidiary, have called for improved safety standards, acknowledging the inherent risks that come with NEV batteries. Currently, spontaneous combustion rates in NEVs lack authoritative data, leading to consumer panic when issues arise. Conventional methods struggle to predict and control such incidents due to the chemical components of NEV batteries [para. 13][para. 15].

There's an ongoing price war in the NEV market as companies cut costs drastically, sometimes compromising component quality. To counter risks associated with growing NEV numbers, there's a call for enhanced safety technology for batteries. The "no fire, no explosion" standard is gaining traction, requiring stringent testing and monitoring for batteries, with many companies expected to comply by 2027. However, older NEVs pose unique challenges, with a higher likelihood of incidents after prolonged use [para. 19][para. 21].

China's NEV landscape is advanced but requires ongoing safety evaluations to keep pace with rapid technological changes. Annual inspections are proposed to check crucial components, notably power batteries’ condition, ensuring continual monitoring and assessment through innovative methods like integrated charging inspections [para. 24][para. 26].

The rise of intelligent driving brings with it new challenges of data security and accident responsibility. Autonomous technology still predominantly functions at Level 2, but advancements continue towards Level 3 autonomy. The intelligence of vehicles requires data collection and storage, raising significant security issues such as susceptibility to cyberattacks. Newly established standards in China aim to safeguard these elements, setting precedent conditions for data-related procedures and enhancing vehicle security [para. 29][para. 31].

Standardization is key as China navigates the balance of technological innovation and regulatory compliance. Events like Tesla’s remote vehicle lockout highlight the complicated dynamics between cybersecurity measures and technologically driven functionalities. New standards in data management, safety, and software updates seek to protect vehicle integrity while supporting technological advancement, aiming to avoid accidents and foster accountability in intelligent systems [para. 34][para. 36].