Safety measure: Greek ferries restrict electric vehicles to 40% charge

Electric cars are not allowed to be more than 40% charged to be allowed on ferries in Greece. The change follows several serious incidents of electric cars catching fire.

Most ferries in Greece will no longer accept fully charged electric vehicles, according to a new regulation by the Greek Ministry of Maritime and Island Policy that came into effect in April. This means that electric vehicles must be no more than 40% charged before they can be taken on board a ferry, according to car owners’ organization ADAC.

The new regulation comes in the wake of serious fires on ferries caused by electric cars. Last summer, for example, a ship traveling from Germany to Egypt caught fire, killing one person and injuring several others. The fire was reportedly caused by one of the electric cars catching fire. The ship was carrying nearly 3,000 cars, 25 of which were reportedly electric cars, according to Dagens PS.

Although there is currently no clear evidence that electric cars are more likely to catch fire than conventional cars, it may be more difficult to extinguish such fires. The course of the fire is also different and, for example, a battery can reignite long after the fire has been extinguished. Battery fires also contribute to the development of the highly toxic gas hydrogen fluoride.

The major Greek shipping companies, including Anek Lines, Minoan Lines and Superfast Ferries, provide information about the new regulations on their websites.