As the automotive industry races to meet net-zero emission targets through a massive shift towards electrification, ensuring battery safety remains as one of the most critical prerequisites for mass EV adoption, and therefore, a top priority for OEMs and battery manufacturers. With various reported cases of EVs catching fire in different contexts, manufacturers, consumers, and regulators look to the topic of fire protection and battery safety with an increased focus and concern over the safety of the passengers and the roads.
Innovative solutions for fire protection and thermal propagation prevention in Electric Vehicle Battery Systems
Triggers of a fire event inside an EV lithium-ion battery
A fire event is typically triggered inside of the EV battery pack when the battery gets out of its “thermal comfort zone” and causes thermal propagation. The fire starts spreading from one cell throughout the entire battery pack, causing battery thermal runaway. This can be caused by three main abuse scenarios:
- Mechanical abuse: For example, a collision or a puncture incident
- Thermal abuse: For example, during a fast-charging cycle
- Electrical abuse: For example, due to an internal or external short circuit event