A flurry of fires in South Korea caused by the batteries inside Ioniq and Kona EVs may force Hyundai to initiate a global recall on its electric vehicles. Business Korea says 15 Kona Electric fires have occurred in Korea since the model launched in 2018. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images Hyundai Kona Electric SUVs are catching fire overseas due to a battery defect. READ MORE:* Hyundai NZ recalls Kona electric car after reports of lithium batteries catching fire* Sharper Hyundai Kona SUV teased* Sunday Drive: Hyundai Ioniq* Kona Electric becomes the first-ever EV crash tested in AustraliaThe timing couldn’t really be worse for Hyundai, as it has only just launched its brand new electric SUV, the Ioniq 5. The only other option is let the fire burn itself out because chemical-based extinguishers don’t work on battery fires.

Source: Stuff February 24, 2021 23:26 UTC