A video of a BYD electric car catching fire in Brazil is gaining attention online. However, the cause of the fire is believed to be a “homemade modification” made by the owner to charge the vehicle.
The incident occurred last Sunday (October 19) in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Witnesses said the car caught fire while it was charging on the road.
The fire department reports that the fire was caused by a “homemade modification” made to the charger by the owner, but the exact cause is still under investigation.
According to local media, the car was connected to a regular household extension cord, a portable charger was inside the car, and the windows were left ajar.
This method is not recommended by the manufacturer, which notes that improvised charging methods can cause overheating and short circuits, which can lead to a fire.
In the footage, the flames started inside the car and were quickly extinguished by firefighters. Fortunately, there was no damage to the battery or electrical system, and no one was injured.
Director of Safety at the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE);Clement GauerHe said on social media: “The culprit is not the vehicle itself, but an impromptu charging modification. Leaving an extension cord or charger locked inside the vehicle increases the risk of overheating.”
“This is a practice that should never be imitated. With around 200,000 BYD vehicles in operation in Brazil, such cases are extremely rare. The problem lies in substandard charging. Safe charging is planned charging.”
An electric car caught fire on the afternoon of October 19th on Rua Dr Bozano in Santa Maria, Brazil.
The fire department said the cause was a battery charging problem. pic.twitter.com/zjTCPOA7J7
— Tumulto BR (@TumultoBR) October 20, 2025
Photo/Video: X @TumultoBR. This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
