Fire Risk: Placing Highway CPC Cards on Wireless Chargers May Cause Fires, Fire Department Warns

China's fire authorities recently issued a safety advisory: Do not place CPC toll cards—distributed at highway toll booths—on vehicle wireless charging pads, as this poses a fire hazard. Some drivers have placed CPC cards alongside their phones in wireless charging zones, where electromagnetic induction generated a strong magnetic field, causing the metal components and chip inside the card to heat up rapidly. Due to the card’s poor heat dissipation from its plastic casing, it can swell, emit smoke, or even catch fire. Viral online videos show affected cards burned through, exposing the internal chip. Authorities stress that CPC cards should be stored in designated card slots, glove compartments, or center console storage areas—away from heat sources and wireless chargers. If a card becomes hot, deformed, or emits a burning smell, drivers should immediately exit the highway and return the card to the nearest toll booth for proper handling to ensure driving safety.