NONTHABURI, THAILAND – An electric car erupted in flames while charging in a garage in Khlong Khoi on Wednesday. The vehicle was destroyed and a nearby pickup truck heavily damaged.
Police at Chaiyaphruek station received an emergency call at 11:30am on August 5 from a house in Pak Kret district. Firefighters from the Khlong Khoi subdistrict administrative organisation arrived to find the car fully engulfed. They brought the blaze under control within 10 to 20 minutes.
Pickup truck damaged by flames
The electric car was almost completely burned out. Flames spread to a parked pickup truck nearby.
The front area and engine compartment of the pickup suffered heavy damage. Firefighters prevented the flames from spreading further.
Forensic team examines charger and vehicle remains
After extinguishing, police secured the scene for investigation. Specialists from Nonthaburi province forensic science examined the vehicle remains and burnt charging equipment.
The wall-mounted charger was found destroyed. Investigators are checking whether the fire started there and then spread to the car. A final cause has not been determined.
Owner says car was new, wiring checked
The 54-year-old owner said he bought the car new from a dealer in April 2025. Before delivery, the electricity company checked the house wiring and found no problems.
This car left the dealership in April 2025.
said the owner. The wall charger supplied and installed by the dealer also showed no faults. There were no warning messages or any indication of a malfunction before the fire, he said.
Two different accounts of the incident
According to one account, the owner connected the car to the wall charger in the morning and drove to the Nonthaburi provincial government centre. While away, he monitored the charging via a mobile phone app until his girlfriend told him about the fire.
According to a second account, he returned home after a trip, connected the car, and went jogging. On his return, he noticed smoke under the car. Less than 50 seconds later, according to this version, an explosion occurred and the car burst into flames.
Owner demands manufacturer responsibility
Neighbours reported hearing a muffled explosion before the smoke appeared. The owner said the electric car had mostly been charged at external stations and had never displayed any warnings.
He demanded the manufacturer take responsibility for the damage caused. Police did not name the manufacturer in their initial reports.