Nissan Philippines has launched a formal investigation after one of its electric vehicles, the Nissan LEAF, began emitting smoke while charging at a dealership on July 21, 2025.
In a statement released three days later, the company confirmed the incident, stating that smoke was seen coming from the vehicle during charging. The dealership’s staff immediately disconnected the unit as a safety precaution. No fire broke out, no injuries were reported, and there was no damage to the vehicle or the surrounding property.
The vehicle involved was the Nissan LEAF, the brand’s fully electric model. A video of the incident has been circulating online, showing thick smoke engulfing the car while plugged into the charging station. Nissan has not disclosed the specific dealership location where the event took place.
The company said it is working closely with relevant parties to determine what caused the smoke and that it will provide updates once the investigation is complete. So far, no recall has been issued and no advisory has been released to LEAF owners.
Safety measures and DOE response
Electric vehicles like the LEAF are equipped with battery management systems designed to monitor temperature, voltage, and charging flow. These systems are meant to prevent overheating, short circuits, or thermal runaway. However, rare incidents involving smoke or heat can still occur due to internal cell faults or external charging issues.
In response to the event, the Department of Energy reaffirmed that electric vehicles sold in the Philippines must meet safety standards under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act. The DOE added that it is coordinating with Nissan to monitor the situation and assess if further regulatory steps are needed.
What EV owners need to know
This appears to be an isolated case, but it has raised questions about EV safety, especially with more Filipinos transitioning to electric mobility. Experts continue to emphasize the importance of using accredited charging stations and regularly checking vehicles for unusual behavior during operation. Nissan has reiterated its commitment to customer safety and will announce its findings once the probe concludes. For now, no additional safety warnings have been issued to current LEAF owners.
