Renault has devised a device to speed up the extinguishing of a burning electric car battery. This “Fireman Access” point is now licensed free of charge to the entire automotive industry.
A fire can be brought under control in time comparable to that of a combustion-powered vehicle, thanks to a simple little device.
An adhesive disc covers an opening in the vehicle’s traction battery housing. This little seal ensures that the battery remains watertight during normal vehicle use. However, in the event of a vehicle fire spreading to the battery, this disc easily gives way under the spray of the lance. This allows the cells to be flooded, preventing thermal runaway of the battery.
Source: MSN: Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Developed as a co-operation between Renault and fire departments, this device could potentially save lives and be Renault’s Seat Belt moment (Nils Bohlin, an engineer at Volvo, invented the three-point seat belt in 1959. Volvo decided that the invention was so significant, it had more value as a free lifesaving tool than something to profit from, and cemented Volvo’s reputation for safety. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
