Renault has created a device to accelerate the extinguishing of a burning electric car battery. This "Fireman Access" point is now available for free licensing to the entire automotive industry.
The Renault group is making available to the entire automotive industry the patents for the Fireman Access device. This innovation is the outcome of a close partnership between Renault and the fire department to enable the faster extinguishing of electric vehicle fires. The device facilitates bringing a fire under control in a time frame comparable to that of a combustion-powered vehicle, through a simple mechanism.
How does it work?
A disc-shaped seal covers an opening in the vehicle's battery compartment. This small seal keeps the battery watertight during normal driving conditions. But if a fire in the vehicle spreads to the battery, the seal can easily be broken by the water spray, allowing the battery to be flooded. This helps to prevent a thermal runaway of the battery. As a result, the fire can be extinguished in a matter of minutes, which is a much faster process than without this device, taking several hours and requiring ten times more water.
(MH with Olivier Duquesne - Source: Renault; Photograph: Renault)
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