The global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) is often framed as a technological revolution for the wealthy world. But for developing countries, the reality of setting up EV charging infrastructure is a complex story of environmental paradox and profound electrical safety risks. This blog explores these critical challenges, using a tragic incident—the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi—as a stark reminder of what happens when electrical safety is neglected.
The Environmental Promise and Paradox
EVs are hailed as a cornerstone of sustainable transport, but in developing nations, the environmental equation is not straightforward. The primary promise is the reduction of local air pollution in densely populated cities and a decrease in reliance on imported fossil fuels . However, the environmental benefits are highly dependent on how the electricity for these vehicles is generated.
In many developing countries, the national grid is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. If an EV is charged using coal-fired power, the emissions are simply shifted from the tailpipe to a power plant . While this can still lead to a net reduction in overall carbon emissions due to the efficiency of large-scale power generation, it complicates the “zero-emission” narrative.
Furthermore, the environmental challenge extends to the batteries themselves. Developing countries often lack the regulatory framework and infrastructure for the safe recycling and disposal of lithium-ion batteries at the end of their life. This creates a risk of “waste colonialism,” where used EVs and their batteries are imported without a plan for handling toxic waste, leading to soil and water contamination from informal recycling practices .
A significant environmental and infrastructural hurdle is the reliability of the grid itself. Countries across Africa and South Asia struggle with power outages and load-shedding . Introducing a large fleet of EVs could place an unbearable strain on an already fragile system, potentially leading to more frequent blackouts and, ironically, an increased reliance on dirty backup generators . This highlights the urgent need for integrating renewable energy sources like solar power into charging infrastructure to ensure the transition is genuinely green and does not compromise grid stability .
The Electrical Safety Time Bomb
Beyond the macro-environmental concerns lie immediate, life-threatening electrical safety challenges. The rapid, and often unregulated, push for EV charging points is creating a dangerous landscape.
In many developing nations, the biggest safety issue is the lack of, or poor enforcement of, technical standards. As seen in Brazil, experts warn against dangerous practices like making irregular charger connections to residential meters or using standard electrical outlets for high-power charging, which poses a significant fire risk . This “quick-fix” mentality, driven by a desire to save costs, creates a hidden network of electrical hazards.
The challenges are multifaceted:
- Grid Instability: Unstable grids can suffer from voltage fluctuations and harmonics, which can damage both the chargers and the vehicles’ sensitive electronics, potentially leading to short circuits and fires .
- Substandard Equipment: A race to the bottom on price means that uncertified chargers and components are entering the market. These often lack critical safety features like proper grounding, overcurrent protection, and thermal management, turning them into potential ignition sources .
- Lack of Skilled Workforce: There is a critical shortage of electricians and technicians trained in the specific requirements of high-voltage DC charging systems. Improper installation by unqualified personnel is a major accident waiting to happen.
The Gul Plaza Incident: A Harbinger of Urban Risk
It is within this context of regulatory neglect and electrical hazard that we must examine the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, Pakistan, which serves as a chilling case study for the potential dangers lurking within dense urban commercial centers.
On January 17, 2026, a devastating fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a multi-story commercial building in Karachi. The blaze killed at least 71 people and left 15 missing . The fire started in an artificial flower shop on the ground floor and spread rapidly due to poor ventilation, locked exits, and overcrowded corridors. However, a key detail makes this incident directly relevant to the future of EV infrastructure: the fire was dangerously fueled by the presence of gas cylinders, generators, and critically, car batteries stored within the building .
The Gul Plaza incident underscores a terrifying reality. In developing countries, commercial and residential buildings are often a chaotic mix of shops, stores, and warehouses. As EV adoption grows, these same buildings will increasingly house EV batteries—either in parked electric scooters and cars or in shops selling and repairing them.
The tragedy highlights several risks that are amplified by the coming wave of EVs:
- Uncontrolled Fuel Load: A lithium-ion battery undergoing thermal runaway is an incredibly intense fire source, difficult to extinguish and capable of releasing toxic gases. Gul Plaza showed how unprepared infrastructure is to handle even conventional batteries, let alone the much larger ones in modern EVs .
- Compounding Hazards: The presence of car batteries alongside other flammable materials created a “perfect storm” that overwhelmed any firefighting efforts. Future EV charging points installed haphazardly in similar buildings will add high-voltage electricity to this already volatile mix.
- Regulatory Blind Spots: The Gul Plaza fire was not an unforeseeable accident. Official warnings about fire safety violations had been issued in 1992, 2015, 2021, and again in audits from 2023 and 2024 . Yet, these warnings were ignored. This systemic failure to enforce basic safety regulations is the same environment in which EV charging infrastructure is now being deployed. If a building cannot be kept safe from a simple electrical short, how can it safely host a high-power EV charger?
The Way Forward: A Call for Urgent Action
The juxtaposition of the EV transition’s promise with the harsh realities of infrastructure deficits and events like the Gul Plaza fire makes one thing clear: developing countries cannot afford a “move fast and break things” approach to electromobility.
To avoid a future of electrical fires and environmental damage, a coordinated and precautionary approach is essential.
- Adopt and Enforce Robust Standards: Governments must urgently develop and, more importantly, enforce national standards for EV charging equipment and installations. This includes adopting international benchmarks like IEC 61851 for chargers and NBR 5410 for electrical installations, and making them mandatory . Standards must also cover the safety of batteries during transport and storage, a direct lesson from the Gul Plaza tragedy .
- Professionalize the Installation Sector: It is vital to create certification programs for EV charger installers. Only qualified and licensed professionals should be permitted to work on high-voltage charging systems, ensuring that “quick-fix” solutions do not become death traps .
- Integrate with Renewable Energy and Grid Planning: EV charging infrastructure must be planned in tandem with grid upgrades and the expansion of renewable energy. Decentralized solutions like solar-powered charging hubs can reduce strain on the grid and ensure the environmental benefits of EVs are realized .
- Implement Strict Building and Fire Codes: The Gul Plaza fire is a devastating lesson in the cost of regulatory neglect. Municipal authorities must conduct rigorous safety audits of commercial buildings, ensuring they have proper fire exits, suppression systems, and safe storage protocols for hazardous materials like batteries .
The electric vehicle revolution offers a path to a cleaner, more sustainable future for developing countries. But if that path is paved with substandard wires, ignored regulations, and unsafe buildings, it will lead not to a green utopia, but to a landscape scarred by electrical fires and environmental degradation. The challenge is not just technological; it is fundamentally a test of governance and our collective commitment to safety.
