(Yicai Global) Sept.12 --This year haswitnessedmany electric vehicleaccidents.China'sMinistry of Industry and Information TechnologyhastakennoteandorderedNEVmakerstocarry out safety inspectionsimmediately,concludethemby October,and report the results inwriting.

Aphoto ofaWM MotorTechnologytestvehiclespontaneously combustingcirculated within the industryon Aug.25.Theincidenttook placein thefirm'sChengduresearchinstituteand the vehicle wasawreckedearly prototypewhich hadundergonemultiplerounds of destructiontests,Shanghai-basedWM Motor Technology said inan Aug. 26 statement.

Thecarwas beingdismantled, with itscircuit protectorand some componentsremoved. The process wasincompletewhenshort-circuitingelectrical componentssparked the fire. The event was effectively controlledfrom the start,withno personsinjured, theChineseelectric vehiclemaker stated.

Thoughonlyan alreadytotaledcarcaught fire, thenewsis nonethelessdefinitelybad for theNEV maker since a massdeliveryis set forthe end ofthis month.

Thisself-immolation is no isolated incident, however.ManyNEVfireincidentshave sprung uparound the world this year,involving Tesla, ZotyeAutomobile,FordMotorand otherautomobile brands. The main causes arecharging and collisions.

The MIIThasinstituted a mechanismforvehicle safety warningandmajor safetyincident investigation.Producersmustreportincidentsthat implicatesafety such asNEVcombustion to responsiblelocalauthoritiesand the equipment industry development centerwithin 12 hours if no casualties result(withinsixhours ifanyinjury or death arises).Theymust also timely investigateincidentsandretain results for future reference.

The development direction of NEVs will not change during the rectification of the industry, an insider from the MIIT said, adding that the guidance on the innovation and development of new energy vehicles is still a work in progress.

Editor: Ben Armour