Proton e.MAS EV Battery Storage Fire in Jelutong Injures One

The Proton e.MAS Penang – Eleganz Lifestyle facility is an authorised electric vehicle (EV) dealership premises in George Town, Penang, representing Proton's dedicated new-energy brand, Proton e.MAS. Operated in Malaysia to support local EV distribution, vehicle servicing, and parts staging, the site includes an on-site storage area for lithium-ion traction batteries. This location serves prospective and current Malaysian EV owners adopting national electric mobility solutions under local 240V charging standards, providing essential regional infrastructure across northern Peninsular Malaysia.

Key Facts

A 10-square-foot EV battery storage area at the Proton e.MAS Penang dealership in Jalan Jelutong caught fire on 11 October 2026, leaving one 31-year-old man injured.

What Occurred During the Proton e.MAS Jelutong Battery Fire?

On Sunday, 11 October 2026, a fire broke out within a 10-square-foot electric vehicle battery storage compartment at the Proton e.MAS Penang – Eleganz Lifestyle facility along Jalan Jelutong. The fire prompted an emergency response from Penang emergency services at 3.42 pm, resulting in one injury as a civilian attempted to escape the flames.

According to a report by Bernama published in The Star, an emergency call was logged at 3.42 pm, dispatching an initial tender from the Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station (BBP Jalan Perak) to the scene. Firefighters arrived to locate the fire isolated to a compact 10-square-foot EV battery storage section. Firefighting personnel successfully brought the blaze under complete control and extinguished it by 4.10 pm before commencing structural overhaul operations.

"The victim received initial medical treatment from the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) team before being conveyed to Penang Hospital for further medical attention."

John Sagun Francis, Assistant Operations Director, Penang Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM)

The injured man, identified as 31-year-old Eugene Chow Hao Jie, sustained injuries while fleeing the burning battery storage enclosure. Medical personnel administered on-site stabilising care through JBPM's Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) prior to hospital transfer. Emergency response teams from JBPM brought the Jelutong battery storage blaze under complete control within 28 minutes of receiving the distress call.

How Did Emergency Services Coordinate the Jelutong Response?

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) executed a coordinated containment operation involving 14 personnel across three official stations alongside two volunteer units and the police. First responders extinguished the active flames at 4.10 pm and conducted thorough overhaul inspections until concluding operations at 5.57 pm.

Operational deployment comprised firefighters from BBP Jalan Perak, BBP Lebuh Pantai, and BBP Paya Terubong, supported by volunteer teams from the Mount Erskine Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Perak Lane Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). Responders maintained an active presence at the scene to perform overhaul duties, mitigating secondary flare-ups or thermal hazards before officially wrapping up the operation at 5.57 pm. Official jurisdiction over the incident was subsequently transferred to the state fire investigation team to establish the precise ignition source.

A joint contingent of 14 JBPM personnel, two volunteer fire brigades, and police secured the Proton e.MAS premises and ended site operations at 5.57 pm.

How It Compares for Malaysian Users

Electric vehicle battery safety represents a critical operational priority for Malaysian motorists transitioning from internal combustion vehicles to new-energy platforms under local tropical climate conditions. High ambient heat, persistent humidity, and high-density urban environments—such as Penang shoplots and high-rise commercial premises—require strict adherence to storage safeguards, Sirim standards, and specialised commercial containment protocols.

Unlike standard workshop fires, electric vehicle lithium-ion battery incidents require specialised containment procedures, thermal imaging, and deliberate overhaul practices by trained JBPM personnel to prevent re-ignition. For urban EV dealerships and regional service centres operating along high-density corridors like Jalan Jelutong, maintaining dedicated, fire-rated battery storage compartments remains vital to confining thermal events to minimal footprints, such as the 10-square-foot area recorded in this incident.

Specialised JBPM overhaul protocols ensure thermal containment for high-voltage battery storage facilities situated within high-density Malaysian commercial districts.

Common Questions

Who was injured in the Proton e.MAS Jelutong battery fire?

Eugene Chow Hao Jie, a 31-year-old man, sustained injuries while escaping the burning battery storage area. He received immediate on-site treatment from the JBPM Emergency Medical Rescue Services unit before being transferred to Penang Hospital for medical care.

How large was the affected EV battery storage area?

Fire and rescue personnel reported that the fire was confined strictly to an electric vehicle battery storage space measuring 10 square feet inside the Proton e.MAS Penang – Eleganz Lifestyle premises on Jalan Jelutong.

What caused the Proton e.MAS battery storage fire in Penang?

The precise cause of the fire remains undetermined. The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department officially concluded on-site overhaul operations at 5.57 pm and transferred the case to the fire investigation team for detailed forensic analysis.

Sources and Methodology

This report is derived from verified domestic news reporting published by Careta ("Premis penyimpanan bateri EV Proton e.MAS di Jelutong terbakar, seorang lelaki cedera", authored by Qalif Latif on 12 October 2026), incorporating official statements from Penang JBPM Assistant Operations Director John Sagun Francis and operational reports from Bernama as published in The Star. Factual metrics, including times, personnel numbers, dimensions, and casualty details, are preserved directly from official records without mathematical aggregation. Non-English source material has been translated into British English while retaining formal Malaysian entity names, geographical locations, and departmental designations.

This article was last updated on 12 October 2026. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Pulau Pinang operational statements.