The solution developed by the French carmaker to extinguish fires quickly conserves both time and water, and this technology is now accessible to every automotive manufacturer.
- Renaul's latest approach for tackling electric vehicle blazes enables emergency personnel to suppress the fire quicker and with greater efficiency.
- Electric vehicle fires occur less frequently compared to internal combustion engine vehicles, yet when battery fires do happen in EVs, they can be particularly challenging to extinguish.
- The French car manufacturer has released its electric vehicle fire safety technology for free to promote wider acceptance and enhance general safety.
An increasing number of automotive manufacturers and battery firms are competing to address the danger of fires in electric vehicles. Renault has implemented its own solution named the "Firefighter Access" system, aimed at extinguishing fires more efficiently and swiftly.
It seems that the French automaker's innovation could enable emergency services to put out fires approximately as quickly as a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle would. This technology depends on an adhesive disk located within the high-voltage battery pack, situated above an aperture. In case of a fire in the battery, water pressure from an outside hose knocks off this disk, allowing water to flood the pack and simultaneously cool down every cell.
This method reportedly prevents thermal runaway, a situation wherein battery cells ignite and continue burning uncontrollably for extended periods. Currently, this system has been integrated into newly manufactured all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars produced globally by Renault, Dacia, and their subsidiary under the Mobilize label focused on quadricycles. Additionally, the technology is now available to other automotive manufacturers through the company’s initiative offering free licenses.
Renault states that the Fireman Access system can put out fires in just a matter of minutes and decreases water consumption by a factor of ten. Studies Studies have demonstrated that electric vehicle fires occur less frequently than combustion engine fires. However, when battery fires do happen, they are extremely challenging to put out and typically require several hours to fully extinguish.
There are various kinds of fire suppression systems available as well. In the previous year, the leading company in batteries was LG Chem stated they had engineered a protective layer finer than a strand of human hair capable of preventing thermal runaway. Additionally, battery researchers from South Korea have devised a novel lithium-metal battery utilizing a solid polymer electrolyte with a barrier that completely stops fires.
Every newly manufactured electric vehicle features advanced and thorough cooling and thermal management systems aimed at maintaining control. However, enhancing fire prevention and suppression technologies continues to be essential—not only for making EVs safer but also for increasing public trust in this burgeoning technological field.
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