Hyundai Motor Contradictory in Handling Kona Electric Fires

Hyundai Motor recently submitted a report on Kona Electric fires to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to the report, the vehicle’s high-voltage battery system might contain certain electrical deficiencies, such as internal damage to certain cells of the lithium-ion battery and/or faulty battery management system control software, that could increase the risk of an electrical short circuit after fully charging the Li-ion battery.


Earlier, in South Korea, the automaker claimed that the fires resulted from some defective LG Chem battery cells and the resultant physical damage to separators. LG Chem denied the possibility, saying that nothing has been clarified as to whether the cause is the battery cell or the battery management system, and yet Hyundai Motor continued to hold LG Chem accountable.

In the meantime, the automaker recently updated the battery management system. Then, both the NHTSA and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea questioned why the update is necessary if the battery cell is the cause of the fires.

Under the circumstances, some are pointing out that the different reports are because the punishment for an intentionally hidden lethal defect is milder in South Korea than in the United States. Specifically, it is 10 years or less in prison or a fine of 100 million won or less in South Korea whereas it is 15 years or less in prison or a huge fine in the United States. Six years ago, Toyota provided false information on sudden unintended acceleration in the United States and had to pay a fine of no less than US$1.2 billion.
(Source: http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=54172)


Hyundai Motor claimed that some defects of the lithium-ion battery from LG Chem are responsible for all fires. The automaker, however, submitted a report to the NHTSA, in which the battery and/or the faulty BMS may increase the risk of an electrical short circuit.
On Oct 30 (the local time in South Korea), the company argued that they made a mistake in the report, and they are going to submit a new report with corrections to the NHTSA. It seems that they firmly believe that there is no definite defect in their BMS...

Here in South Korea, not all batteries in the cars after a BMS update are replaced. They just replace a battery pack or module if needed. Replacement with a battery assembly barely happens. What is worse is that they do not have enough batteries, impeding the replacement.