Hyundai is considering replacing the rechargeable batteries of all Kona electric cars sold so far after a spate of engine fires as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport completes a probe this month.
Fifteen fires have been reported since May 2018. On Monday, an electric Hyundai bus also caught fire in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. It was the first time that a Hyundai EV burst into flames while being driven, and the bus was powered by the same type of battery made by LG Energy Solution as the Kona.
The Kona is Hyundai's flagship EV with domestic and overseas sales totaling 160,000 cars.
Hyundai is already preparing a voluntary recall and is considering including 10,000 Ioniq EVs and hundreds of electric buses on top of 77,000 Konas manufactured since September 2017.
The aim is to resolve all disputes about the Kona ahead of the release of the new Ioniq 5 electric compact crossover next week.
LG by contrast hopes to recall only 26,000 domestically sold EVs and claims the fires are the result of "multiple causes."
Hyundai will split the costs of recalls with LG. But they are forecast to take one or two years due to a global shortage of rechargeable batteries.
