EV Catches Fire While Charging at Guangzhou Station; Skywell HiT PHEV Suspected

On June 1, 2024, a new energy vehicle caught fire at a charging station in Guangzhou. Surveillance footage showed that thick smoke suddenly emerged from the undercarriage of a black SUV while it was charging, prompting the owner to immediately exit the vehicle to investigate. Approximately tens of seconds later, visible flames erupted from the vehicle’s undercarriage, rapidly spreading and engulfing the entire car. On-site personnel promptly moved nearby vehicles away and attempted to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers. However, fires caused by thermal runaway in new energy vehicles are typically difficult to control with conventional extinguishers, and the blaze could not be effectively contained. The involved vehicle is suspected to be the Skyworth HiT plug-in hybrid model. The 2025 version of this model offers two battery pack options—21 kWh and 32 kWh—with a maximum all-electric CLTC range of up to 200 kilometers and support for fast charging. This incident once again highlights the importance of monitoring a vehicle’s condition during charging. Owners are advised to immediately move away from their vehicles upon noticing any abnormalities and avoid remaining inside or resting in the car while it is charging.