The update affects the battery management system.
Hyundai
The Hyundai Kona Electric has reportedly received some kind of battery update after reports of two fires, one in Canada and one in South Korea.
Hyundai said on Thursday Roadshow that the South Korean automaker has released a software update that is available to all owners to optimize the battery management system. The update “includes additional monitoring of the diagnostic status of the high-voltage battery and cells to ensure continuous quality performance of the vehicle” and increases the “performance and longevity” of the battery.
When Hyundai pushed the update is not entirely clear. The Kona Electric fire in Canada occurred last year, while the fire in South Korea occurred on May 29 this year. According to the South Korean news agency SBS News, the Kona Electric was parked and charged when the fire started. EV fires are known to be difficult to extinguish as a lithium-ion battery burns. According to the report, the entire car was lost in the flame. An investigation is ongoing, but a Hyundai spokesman has not commented on the matter.
Regarding the fire in Canada, the CBC reported last year that the vehicle owner heard an explosion for the first time before the fire started and the garage partially collapsed with the Kona Electric inside. It is not clear whether the electric car was charging at this time. According to a Hyundai spokesman, the investigation is ongoing.
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