Qualisports Korea scooter recalled over fire hazard

The government is recalling electric scooters made by Qualisports Korea due to defective components that could lead to fires.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Tuesday that Qualisports’ Qualibot S1 electric scooter failed safety standards as its electronic components were burnt after overcharging tests.

The government has ordered the company to recall the product in question, citing fire hazards when charging the product.

The tests, conducted by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) from April to this month, also checked batteries from nine other scooter models, 10 electric bicycle models and 62 portable handheld fan products. Only the Qualibot S1 model, manufactured in China, failed the tests.

KATS carried out the tests as the products are in high demand during the summer vacation period.

Electric scooters have recently risen in popularity in Korea, although they are only allowed on roads. The government earlier this month temporarily allowed some electric scooter sharing companies to operate their services on bike paths.

By Chae Yun-hwan