EV chargers are being investigated after reports of fires, explosions

NHTSA said its Office of Defect Investigation received six complaints alleging defects in Enel X Way’s JuiceBox Level 2 residential EV charger. In one complaint, a person claimed that loading their vehicle with a JuiceBox resulted in an explosion in their garage, which set a house on fire and caused it to be a total loss.

Another individual claims a car caught fire in their driveway while loading a JuiceBox. Four other complaints describe electrical malfunctions that trip circuit breakers and interrupt electric vehicle charging cycles.

ODI said it also learned that loader owners were informed earlier this month that Enel X Way North America would cease operations in the US and Canada on Friday. This could affect the charging application and supporting software, it added.

The company said in a statement on its website that it is exiting the US and Canada due to changing market conditions and because it does not have a retail electricity customer base in North America.

ODI has opened a preliminary assessment to assess the scope, frequency and security implications of the charger issue, including the security impact related to the application and supporting software.