Conference discusses causes of vehicle fires

Electrical short circuits, fuel leaks, heating system faults and substandard fuel were causes of motor vehicles catching fire.

Vietnam Register general director Trinh Ngoc Giao said that after six months of research the main causes were identified, plus the addition of rats eating electrical wires and overheated exhaust systems.

Vietnam Register official Nguyen Van Phuong said accessories and inferior maintenance contributed to the problem.

A survey of 52 motor vehicle workshops showed car fires were due to short-circuits (41.72 percent of car fires and 35.28 percent of motorbike fires), fuel leaks (6.78 percent and 14.29 percent) and exhaust system problems (20.34 percent and 9.52 percent).

It is impossible to quantify the contribution of poor quality fuel mixtures used to cheat customers, however they were sure to have a detrimental affect on the engine and exhaust systems, the conference heard.

Giao called on the Government to raise standards to prevent vehicle fires.

Meanwhile, he said, scientists will continue their research on motor vehicle fires to improve quality control.

Reports showed that from January 2010 to August 2012, 337 cars and 126 motorbikes caught fire in Vietnam.