Amid recent electric vehicle(EV) fires in the country, Seoul City announced on Friday that it will implement a new measure preventing EVs with a charge exceeding 90 percent from entering underground parking lots at apartment complexes.

The decision comes in response to concerns that excessive charging is a major cause of EV battery fires.

Seoul City recommends a revision to apartment management regulation guidelines, which would prohibit EVs with more than a 90 percent charge from accessing underground parking at apartment complexes by the end of next month.

EV owners can manually set their charging limits to ensure their vehicles do not exceed a 90 percent charge.

Seoul City is also looking into revising building regulations to require that EV charging stations be installed only in above-ground parking lots at newly built facilities or apartment complexes.