Renault Group has said that it will make its new patented ‘Fireman Access’ battery safety technology free to licence by any car or battery maker.
The tech is relatively simple in execution but has taken a great deal of development, and Renault has worked closely with French fire services to get it right.
Hard to extinguish
Basically, if a lithium-ion battery catches fire, it can be very hard to extinguish, as not only do batteries burn hot and fast, but they can also re-ignite once you think they’ve been put out. Fire services across the world have been known to deal with battery fires by simply letting them burn until they’re done or by immersing the whole car in a huge container full of water - neither are exactly practical solutions.
Renault’s response to the problem is Fireman Access. With this system, 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. 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.
Shared improvements
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. The tech can be licenced, for free, by anyone and the only stipulation is that any developments and improvements are shared with all licencees.
Renault says that the system is part of its commitment to work alongside United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, in raising awareness of road safety around the world and deploying technological innovations to save lives on the roads.
Break down safety 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 expertise as a manufacturer with the skills of the men and women who keep us safe every day. Today, I'm delighted to be making 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, all over the world," said Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group.
According to Renault, the development of Fireman Access for batteries is: “part of the Group’s policy and action for road safety which follows a 360-degree approach, and revolves around four key areas - preventing, correcting, protecting and rescuing - and uses technologies that step in before, during and after road crashes. This continuous improvement journey, which started more than 50 years ago, is based on an ‘accidentology’ database that is unmatched worldwide, the expertise of dedicated teams, and close cooperation with rescue services, the scientific and academic community, partner manufacturers and public authorities all working together to harness technology that puts people at the centre and makes mobility safer and accessible for all.”