KUALA LUMPUR: The Fire and Rescue Department will propose that the government establish safety guidelines for electric vehicle (EV) charging at homes amid the growing use of EVs.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the guidelines were important as the department had limited oversight of residential wiring, particularly wiring installed after the miniature circuit breaker.
He said the department recorded about 25 fires involving EVs across four categories over the past three years, although the number had not increased sharply from year to year.
“Among the hypotheses being examined is the possibility that the fire originated from the vehicle itself, the charger, the charging station or the wiring connecting the system,” he said after attending the Firefighting Skills Hub programme here yesterday.
Commenting on a fire involving an EV that was being charged at a two-storey terraced house in Cheras last Sunday, he said the cause was still under investigation, Bernama reported.
Nor Hisham advised EV owners who install home chargers to use chargers that comply with safety standards and engage registered and certified companies for installation work.
“The charging process usually takes seven to eight hours continuously.
“Therefore, the risk of fire due to electrical problems remains,” he said.
