Hyundai Mobis has introduced a new battery system that incorporates a built-in fire suppression unit, marking a proactive step toward improving safety in electric vehicles amid tightening global regulatory standards.
The Korean supplier said the integrated system is capable of releasing a fire suppressant within five minutes of thermal ignition, targeting the critical time window during which occupants can safely exit a vehicle. The new Battery System Assembly (BSA) is designed not only to meet existing safety standards in Europe, China, and India but also to anticipate more stringent rules expected in the near future.
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Current regulations require that thermal runaway – a chain reaction of overheating cells – be delayed for at least five minutes to ensure safe evacuation after a crash. Hyundai Mobis said its latest system was developed to go beyond these minimum standards by focusing on early detection and localized containment of fire within the battery pack.
“Based on the real-time data collected by the sensors, it analyzes the temperature and voltage of the battery and the pressure inside the battery system to determine any abnormalities,” the company said. “It then sets the location where the extinguishing agent will be sprayed and commands the fire extinguishing device to operate.”
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The system combines an upgraded battery management unit, dedicated fire-extinguishing hardware, and control software. It features built-in redundancies and algorithms to avoid false activations, which can lead to unnecessary repair costs. The suppression agent, while unspecified, is described as having strong cooling, insulation, and permeability properties and is safe for both humans and the environment.
Hyundai Mobis has filed three domestic and international patents related to the system, including for the fire suppression mechanism. The extinguishing capacity is claimed to be five times greater than a standard 3.3-kg household extinguisher, though specific figures on volume, weight, or integration into existing battery packs were not disclosed.
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“As large electric vehicles with improved driving range appear, the safety standards for battery systems are becoming more stringent,” said Park Yong Jun, Vice President of the Battery System R&D Group at Hyundai Mobis. “We will integrate hardware and software to develop advanced battery systems that meet and exceed global standards, and introduce them to the global market.”
The company expects technologies like this to play a key role in the next generation of electric vehicles, as manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve both range and safety in a rapidly expanding market.