‘Living on a ticking time bomb’: Shanghai residents alarmed by 186-bay EV battery station beneath homes

The station was installed inside Building No. 4 of the Xindian complex in Hongkou District, a densely populated neighborhood built in 2000.

The space, barely 10 square meters, was filled with stacked cabinets containing 186 battery slots from eight different brands. The cramped setup leaves only enough room for one person to pass through at a time, Kankan News reported.

Surveillance footage shows the station is heavily used, with over 30 people entering within a 30-minute period. "They slot in batteries that are still hot and take out fully charged ones. We feel like we are living on a ticking time bomb," a resident surnamed Lu told local newspaper Xinwenfang.

Users replace batteries for electric bikes at a battery swapping station. Photo from Facebook

The station's location exacerbates residents' concerns, as it is situated between a gas equipment shop and a restaurant, both of which carry inherent fire risks. Safety measures at the site are minimal, consisting of four dry-powder fire extinguishers and lacking an automatic sprinkler system or proper ventilation.

In response to the dangerous conditions, 90% of residents signed a petition demanding the station's relocation. The operator, surnamed Zhang, explained that the station complied with regulations and had obtained a business license in 2023. "The batteries also have remote temperature monitoring systems," Zhang said.

However, Shao, an officer from Hongkou's fire department said battery cabinets previously only required a standard business license and did not need separate fire safety approval. "Legal does not necessarily mean reasonable or safe," Shao emphasized.

Yu Xin, the secretary of the local residential committee, agreed, stating, "Placing a high-risk facility at the base of a densely populated building is unacceptable. If a fire breaks out, it would be a disaster with no escape."

The issue was resolved after Shanghai's new fire safety standards for EV charging stations took effect last month. The updated rules mandate that stations be installed outdoors, or indoors with fire-resistant walls, fire alarms, automatic sprinklers, and separate ventilation systems.

Hongkou authorities conducted a reassessment of the Xindian station earlier this month and found several violations: the charging density was double the permitted level, the operating space was insufficient, and there was a lack of ventilation.

Additionally, five charging devices from three brands were not connected to the unified safety monitoring system. Following the inspection, local authorities ordered the station to halt operations and relocate out of the building.

The case has raised concerns about energy safety management in China's megacities. Shanghai officials stated that this incident would serve as a precedent for reviewing similar facilities across the city, with plans to build 5,000 standardized outdoor charging stations by the end of 2026.