French carmaker Renault has decided to make its ‘Fireman Access’ patents, developed with professional rescue services to extinguish an EV’s battery on fire in a few minutes, freely available to the entire automotive industry. A process that otherwise can take hours by immersion of the whole vehicle in a container with water.
Renault says car manufacturers and parts suppliers can now obtain a free license for this innovation through the open, collaborative platform. In return, Renault expects them to make any future upgrades available to other community members.
Drenching cells in water
The patented Fireman Access allows firefighters to prevent thermal runaway and fire in an EV battery, taking roughly the same time as it takes to extinguish a fire on a combustion engine.
“From a technical standpoint, an adhesive disc is placed over an opening in the casing of the vehicle’s traction battery, effectively sealing it for normal use. If the vehicle catches fire and the flames spread to the battery, the powerful jet from the fire hose dislodges the disc and drenches the cells in water – the only fast and effective way of stopping thermal runaway,” Renault explains.
“In this way, a battery fire can be extinguished in just a few minutes, compared with several hours and ten times as much water without this feature. Fireman Access thereby enables firefighters to return to operational readiness more quickly. Seven patents have been filed for this system, which is now fitted on all the electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold by Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize worldwide.”
Breaking down all barriers
“Innovating to improve road safety is part of who we are at Renault. We’re particularly proud of the partnership developed with the fire services in recent years. Fireman Access is a practical demonstration of what can be achieved by combining our manufacturing expertise with the skills of the men and women who keep us safe every day,” said Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group.
“Today, I’m delighted to make this innovation freely available because when it comes to a subject like safety, we need to break down all the barriers. This move is also in keeping with the commitment made alongside the United Nations to make mobility safer worldwide.”
The company adds that this initiative is the first practical expression of Renault Group’s commitment to work alongside the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, to raise awareness of road safety worldwide and deploy technological innovations to save lives on the roads.
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