https://qz.com/1575817/electric-vehicles-from-chinese-car-maker-bjev-are-catching-fire/ Electric vans from one of China’s biggest EV makers are catching fire March 19, 2019 Echo Huang
[image https://cms.qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Beiqi-Weiwang-407EV-2019-e1552976194357.png ] Improving technology means that electric vehicles (EV) are able to go for ever-longer ranges, but it’s also challenging the safety limits of batteries, as one leading Chinese EV maker is finding out. So far in 2019, there have been least three incidents of electric minivans of the same model catching fire while charging, with the latest incident happening last week in Shenzhen, news outlet National Business Daily (link in Chinese) reported yesterday (March 18). The vehicles in question are the Beiqi Weiwang 407EV, manufactured by BJEV [ https://qz.com/1489228/beyond-the-tesla-bubble-the-future-of-electric-cars-is-being-scripted-in-china/ ] (paywall), an EV maker linked to state-owned manufacturer BAIC, a staffer at the Shenzhen Electric Vehicle Application and Promotion Center confirmed to Quartz. Founded in 2009, BJEV is one of the country’s biggest manufacturers of battery electric vehicles. Last year, it topped sales of battery passenger cars in China, selling about 150,000 units (link in Chinese). BJEV didn’t respond immediately to a request for comment. The incidents come at a time as China’s rapid advance into electric cars is now placing a greater focus on increasing battery performance, with the government using the energy density of batteries as a key factor in determining the subsidies given to carmakers. But the measure has also drawn criticism (link in Chinese). In theory, high energy density means (paywall) that batteries can last longer, are cheaper, and are also lighter in weight. That, however, poses more serious challenges to battery safety because energy-rich metals like lithium tend to be reactive. That’s part of the reason why China has a surveillance network working 24/7 to monitor EVs and prevent batteries from catching fire, though it’s unclear if the 407EVs made by BJEV are part of the network. Starting at a price of around 100,000 yuan ($15,000) each, the EV407 minivan has a range of 220 kilometers (136 miles). The van is designed for use in urban logistics services, according to the company (link in Chinese). Since the incidents, three companies including Lalamove, a Hong Kong-based logistics firm which has operations in China, have stopped using the model, a news outlet focusing on the battery industry reported (link in Chinese). [© qz.com] http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2019-03-18/1311315.html (Beiqi Weiwang 407EV charging spontaneous combustion accident frequently stopped 2019-03-18 Ouyang Kai, Wei Guanhong(Wei Weihong) On the afternoon of March 17, the Shenzhen New Energy Vehicle Application and Promotion Center issued an urgent notice. Since Shenzhen City has had many safety accidents caused by the self-ignition of Beiqi Weiwang 407EV new energy pure electric trucks this year, the promotion center suggested that the relevant accidents Before it has been ascertained, all relevant enterprises and individuals should immediately stop using Beiqi Weiwang 407EV new energy pure electric truck. Subsequently, Shenzhen Electric King Fast Charge Technology Company, cargo Lala, Zhaowei New Energy and other enterprises responded, and issued corresponding notice to stop using the model. Shortly after the “3·15”, the quality and safety of new energy vehicles became the focus again. On the afternoon of March 17, the Shenzhen New Energy Vehicle Application and Promotion Center (hereinafter referred to as the Promotion Center) issued an urgent notice. Due to the safety accidents in Shenzhen City this year, many of the Beiqi Weiwang 407EV new energy pure electric trucks were charged and spontaneously ignited. According to the requirements of the higher authorities, the promotion center recommends that enterprises and individuals engaged in the operation of vehicles and charging piles in Shenzhen should stop using the Beiqi Weiwang 407EV new energy pure electric truck immediately before the cause of the relevant accident has been ascertained. . Subsequently, Shenzhen Electric King Fast Charge Technology Company, cargo Lala, Zhaowei New Energy and other enterprises responded, and issued corresponding notice to stop using the model. On March 18, the relevant person in charge of the promotion center told the reporter that the relevant enterprises have been urged to take effective measures for disposal. It is hoped that the vehicle enterprises can carry out comprehensive inspections of vehicles and minimize the occurrence of spontaneous combustion accidents, but the notice is not mandatory, only A suggestion calls for companies to pay attention to car safety issues. Involved in Shenzhen 1519 vehicles According to the investigation, the number of Beiqi Weiwang 407EV vehicles currently registered in Shenzhen is 1,519, of which 1,417 are purchased by enterprises and 102 are purchased by individuals. The notice shows that all charging facility operators should immediately stop charging services for BAIC Weiwang 407EV new energy pure electric trucks. If the vehicle spontaneously ignites, drivers and other relevant personnel should stay away as soon as possible and report to the fire department in time. The notice further requires that the safety of pure electric trucks should be increased. For vehicles that have already occurred, vehicle operators and vehicle manufacturers should try to investigate the cause of accidents, comprehensively investigate possible safety risks, and actively take measures to solve them. . The promotion center pointed out that the safety of the promotion and application of new energy vehicles involves not only the safety of the public life and property, but also the strategic development prospects of emerging industries. It once again calls on relevant enterprises to do a good job in the safety self-inspection of new energy pure electric trucks in a timely manner. Promote the healthy development of the new energy automobile industry. However, it seems that the outside world is not unexpected. As early as March 14, in Baidu "Beiqi Bar", there were netizens who broke the news that because Beiqi Weiwang 407EV battery smoked and ignited spontaneously, many charging stations in Shenzhen could not be charged. The relevant person in charge of the promotion center told the reporter that no specific accident has been counted yet. However, according to the notice issued by Zhaowei New Energy, on March 6th, March 12th and March 16th, there were 3 charging and spontaneous combustion events in the charging stations in Shenzhen. Self-ignition battery thermal runaway "Daily Economic News" reporter learned that Beiqi Weiwang is a micro-customer brand under the BAIC Group. The 407EV was launched in November last year and sold for about 109,800 yuan. It claims to "satisfy the urban road surface." The logistics and transportation mission, 220km of battery life is enough to meet the daily use needs of most cities in the country, and because of the use of pure electric drive, so the transportation costs can be saved." In response to the accident of this model, the reporter dialed the after-sales service hotline of the model. The customer service staff told the reporter that they have not received any notice about the disposal of this car. At present, this car is only sold for large customers, generally buying vehicles. For more than ten customers, if you want to buy in bulk, you can arrange for a major account manager to contact. However, as of press time, the reporter has not been able to contact the relevant personnel of Beiqi Weiwang. New energy vehicle safety has always been the focus of attention. Previously, the research report of China's electric vehicle market published by the research institute EVTank did not completely count and sort out the safety accidents of electric vehicles in China. According to the report, in 2017 and 2018, there were 14 accidents and 34 accidents in China's electric vehicles, involving 103 vehicles and 51 vehicles respectively. In the research report, EVTank found out that the main cause of safety accidents in electric vehicles is related to power batteries by combing public data, and most of the vehicles spontaneously ignited during charging. EVTank pointed out that the main reason for the frequent occurrence of domestic electric vehicle safety accidents is that due to policy subsidies, a large number of car companies and battery companies lack sufficient verification for the safety of electric vehicles and power batteries in order to increase the amount. For the self-ignition accident of new energy vehicles, which was not uncommon, in January this year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Ouyang Minggao said at the China Electric Vehicles 100-person meeting that the battery thermal runaway caused spontaneous combustion. "The current electric vehicles are pursuing high energy density and high battery life. The reduction of the thickness of the diaphragm has caused certain safety hazards to the safety of the battery, and it is easy to cause thermal runaway. In addition, the rapid adjustment of the state subsidy policy is inconsistent with the development cycle of the power battery system, resulting in the product not being fully verified. Create a safety hazard." The Beiqi Weiwang 407EV charging spontaneous combustion accident was also classified as a battery thermal runaway accident in the notice of the promotion center. Prior to this, the former National 863 electric vehicle major special power battery test center director Wang Zidong said in an interview that the power battery pack is a very complex energy system, a battery safety and cycle life, in addition to the quality of the battery itself, The important thing is safety control. ) + (C$20k 2seat Solo EV.cn production facility elbows-in) https://www.wardsauto.com/alternative-propulsion/canadian-ev-maker-opens-china-plant Canadian EV Maker Opens China Plant Mar 11, 2019 Vancouver-based Electra Meccanica has begun building the Solo, a single-passenger EV retailing for C$19,888 ($15,500), at its Zongshen Solo EV production facility in Chongquing.cn A Canadian entry elbows into China's crowded electric-vehicle market ... https://www.wardsauto.com/sites/wardsauto.com/files/styles/article_featured_standard/public/Electra%20Meccanica%20Solo%203_1.jpg?itok=sFo2obJG For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/archive/ {brucedp.neocities.org} -- Sent from: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/ _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)