A luxury Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle worth more than S$230,000 was destroyed by fire in Woodlands on Tuesday morning, leaving its owner shaken after she managed to escape moments before the blaze intensified.
The incident happened at around 10am on July 21 near the entrance of a multi-storey car park at Block 548 Woodlands Drive 44, beside Vista Point. Images shared online showed the electric car completely engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the air as emergency responders arrived at the scene.
According to the vehicle owner, the car had shown no signs of mechanical problems before the incident. She said she had owned the Mercedes-Benz EV for less than three years and had not experienced any previous issues with it.
Driver Noticed Burning Smell Before Fire Broke Out
The owner explained that she was preparing to leave the car park when she suddenly detected a burning smell. She immediately stopped the vehicle and stepped outside to investigate.
After checking the car, she noticed smoke emerging from inside the cabin. Acting quickly, she retrieved a small fire extinguisher and enlisted the help of nearby security officers in an attempt to control the flames.
Despite their efforts, the fire spread rapidly. The owner claimed the flames appeared to originate from the area between the driver’s and front passenger seats, while noting that the vehicle’s main battery is located beneath the chassis. Realising the blaze was growing out of control, they contacted the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Fire Spread Rapidly As Owner Fled To Safety
The owner said she abandoned the vehicle after fearing it could explode. She also reported hearing what sounded like explosion-like noises as the fire intensified.
SCDF confirmed it received an emergency call regarding the incident at about 10:10am. Firefighters extinguished the blaze using a water jet. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Photos from the scene showed the vehicle’s interior extensively damaged. According to reports, the car was eventually removed from the location by a tow truck at around 12:15pm.
Owner Says She Was Lucky The Fire Happened In The Car Park
Speaking after the incident, the owner admitted she had initially been hesitant about purchasing an electric vehicle when the technology first became available. However, after seeing EVs become increasingly common over the years, she eventually decided they were reliable enough to own.
Reflecting on the frightening experience, she believes she was fortunate the fire occurred while she was leaving the car park rather than while travelling on an expressway.
She said that if the incident had happened on a busy road, she might not have felt safe stopping the vehicle immediately because of passing traffic. In that situation, she feared she could have become trapped inside the burning car.
The incident serves as another reminder that while electric vehicles are generally regarded as safe, any vehicle fire can escalate rapidly. The cause of this particular blaze remains under investigation by the relevant authorities.