PETALING JAYA: Electric vehicle (EV) chargers should be sourced from approved suppliers and comply with established safety standards, says the Fire and Rescue Department.
“Charging equipment must come from suppliers recognised by the Energy Commission. It must meet specific standards to ensure safety,” said department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad.
He added the installation of EV chargers must comply with MS IEC 61851 and MS IEC 62196 standards, and adherence to these standards is regulated by the commission.
The reminder follows an incident in which two EVs parked in a car porch caught fire, damaging about 10% of the house. No injuries were reported.
According to a Facebook post by Damansara fire station, the vehicles appeared to be an XPeng G6 and a BYD Seal. The fire was successfully extinguished with water.
Nor Hisham said that based on preliminary findings, the vehicles were not being charged at the time of the fire.
Despite speculation blaming the charger or ongoing charging, he said the fire occurred hours after charging had concluded.
He added that current regulations focus mainly on public areas. Any proposals for broader legal protections for EV chargers would need to be submitted under the National EV Steering Committee (JKK Pemandu) framework within the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Electric Vehicle Owners Club (MyEVOC) president Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi said the association has been actively engaging with the commission, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and certified charging installation specialists to make home charging safe and accessible.
“Following these engagement sessions, both the commission and TNB have issued guidelines for home charger installations.
“Companies and individuals listed as ‘competent persons’ by the commission can provide suitable recommendations on equipment and available power,” Shahrol said.
He also recommended installing smoke detectors near charging points and performing regular inspections, noting that wire connections can loosen over time, increasing the risk of overheating.
Shahrol urged EV owners to engage certified, professional installers and follow their recommendations carefully. He said that proper installation, monitoring and regular maintenance are key to preventing accidents.
