Renault becomes firefighter

An idea has been developed by the Renault Group that it claims can help dampen fires in electric cars as quickly those with internal combustion engines (ICEs).

The company is making its Fireman Access patents freely available to the automotive industry if manufacturers and parts suppliers obtain a free licence via an open collaborative platform. In return, licensees must agree any upgrades will be made available to other members of the community.

Developed between Renault and the fire services, Fireman Access allows the emergency services to put out an EV blaze in about the same time as on an ICE vehicle.

The system works by placing an adhesive disc over an opening in the casing of the traction battery, effectively sealing it for normal use.

If the vehicle catches fire and the flames spread to the battery, a powerful jet from the fire hose dislodges the disc and drenches the cells in water.

This is the only fast and effective way of stopping “thermal runaway”. It happens when rising temperature causes new fires from cell to cell. 

Renault says that in this was a battery fire can be put out in just a few minutes says compared with several hours and 10 times as much water without this feature.

The system is now fitted on all fully electric and plug-in hybrid models sold by Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize globally.