This is the shocking moment an electric car burst into flames while charging in China.

CCTV footage shows the Mercedes-Benz emitting thick black smoke in a parking area in Hengshui, Hebei, on March 15.

Moments later, the black hatchback suddenly exploded, with massive flames coming underneath the four-wheeler engulfing the entire vehicle.

The car owner immediately called the fire department, who rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze.

Local fire officials later confirmed that the fire was caused by a thermal runaway in the vehicle's battery system.

No injuries were reported from what happened.

Following the incident, the owner filed a complaint with the car manufacturer, but reportedly received no response, compensation, or refund for the four-month-old vehicle.

China has raced ahead in the development of electric cars. They have the world's largest supply of rare earth metals needed in the batteries and have also colonised vast swathes of mines in Africa to feed the demand for base metals.