A recent car crash rescue video has sparked widespread discussion online. The footage shows a Dongfeng eπ007 pure electric vehicle colliding with a heavy semi-trailer, followed by black smoke and open flames within tens of seconds. Locked doors hindered occupant escape, resulting in one fatality and four injuries.
Notably, the vehicle was equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery supplied by Sunwoda Electronic Co.,Ltd., which had been promoted by both Dongfeng eπ and Sunwoda as "non-flammable and non-explosive" with ultimate safety protection.
The belated video release has brought this nearly year-old incident back into public view, highlighting the significant gap between Sunwoda's safety claims and the actual performance of its battery.
The accident occurred on March 19, 2025, in Yunnan Province. The involved Dongfeng eπ007 was an electric ride-hailing vehicle using Sunwoda's lithium iron phosphate battery cells within the Mahe E battery system—jointly produced by Dongfeng Group and Sunwoda.
Police reports indicate rainy conditions contributed to the crash when the truck driver illegally reversed at an intersection. Surveillance footage shows smoke emerging 41 seconds after impact, with flames visible in the rear seats by 1 minute 28 seconds. Despite rescue efforts, the passenger in the front seat could not be saved due to locked doors and rapidly spreading fire.
Public attention has shifted from liability assignment to vehicle safety performance—particularly why Sunwoda's battery ignited within 50 seconds of collision, contradicting "non-flammable" marketing claims.
Historical promotional materials showed Dongfeng eπ007 highlighting battery safety as a core feature, citing passage of extreme tests including gunshot, needle penetration, and fire exposure. Sunwoda had emphasized inherent safety advantages of its lithium iron phosphate batteries through special cell structure design and thermal runaway suppression technology.
An automotive safety expert suggested the real-world collision scenario—possibly involving guardrail penetration into the battery pack—could trigger internal short circuits faster than laboratory conditions allow. The expert noted thermal runaway chain reactions can complete within seconds, matching the incident's timeline.
Sunwoda currently faces multiple challenges beyond this incident, including patent lawsuits from international competitors and production cost pressures. The company's stock price has declined 29.12% over three months, reflecting market concerns.