Recently, a spate of fire and explosion incidents involving new energy vehicles has sparked widespread concern, with the issue of liability determination coming under the spotlight. Cui Shuaishuai, a partner at V&T Law Firm (Shanghai), emphasized that pinpointing liability for battery-related fire accidents in new energy vehicles is a multifaceted and intricate process. It encompasses interdisciplinary technological knowledge and involves a diverse liability chain, making it inaccurate to simply lay the blame on battery manufacturers.

Battery thermal runaway, the root cause of many such fires, can be triggered by a myriad of factors. These range from internal defects within battery cells and malfunctions in the battery management system to external collisions and improper charging management. To ascertain the true cause, authoritative third-party identification is indispensable. The responsible party should be determined through a comprehensive assessment that takes into account professional identification conclusions as well as the specific facts of each case.

Vehicle manufacturers and battery suppliers are tasked with defining the ultimate liability through internal liability-tracing mechanisms. This ensures a fair and just resolution to the complex issue of liability in new energy vehicle fire accidents.