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As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular, safety concerns related to their lithium-ion batteries have emerged, especially following accidents or damage. In response, researchers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have successfully demonstrated a novel fire mitigation method designed to safely store damaged EVs and their batteries, addressing a growing risk in the transportation industry.
Led by Senior Research Engineer Kyle Fernandez, the demonstration took place at SwRI’s facilities and marks a significant advancement in fire safety technology. With no standardized testing method for electric vehicle containment enclosures, SwRI took the initiative to create a customized test for this emerging challenge. The test focuses on mitigating fire risks associated with thermal runaway—a phenomenon where a battery heats up rapidly, potentially triggering a chain reaction that results in an uncontrollable fire.
“With a lot of emerging industries, the test standards haven’t caught up with the new technologies,” explained Karen Carpenter, Director of Fire Technology at SwRI, according to the press release. “SwRI specializes in creating customized test programs to evaluate scenarios that don’t necessarily have a standardized method associated with them.”
The test’s timing is crucial, as the popularity of EVs continues to rise. Accidents involving these vehicles, which commonly carry highly flammable lithium-ion batteries, present serious fire hazards. It is recommended that damaged EVs be stored far away from other vehicles and structures to reduce the risk of fire spreading. However, in urban areas with limited space, this recommendation can be difficult to follow.
SwRI’s research effectively replicated the conditions of thermal runaway and evaluated the effectiveness of vehicle enclosures in preventing fire escalation. Using advanced tools like thermocouples to monitor temperatures inside and outside the enclosure, the team assessed the containment system’s ability to safely manage the intense heat generated by the fire.
With this innovative fire safety method, SwRI aims to improve safety standards in the rapidly evolving EV sector, ensuring that damaged vehicles are safely handled and stored until they can be properly repaired.
