This Stellantis technology prevents battery fires in the brand's vehicles

The perception we have of electric cars is that they catch fire easily and pose a considerable risk. However, reality seems to be different, because the data offer a different perspective. Electric cars are even safer than those with combustion engines and present a lower risk of fire.

Even so, manufacturers continue to work to make this risk even lower and propose safety systems that make everything more reliable. For example, Stellantis has just presented a patent that will prevent many problems in the event of a fire in the car.

A solution that prevents fires

The patent offers a solution for batteries that suffer thermal runaway and can cause fires. It is a multifunctional foam that can act quickly and efficiently at different points in the battery. It is capable of cooling, providing thermal insulation and suppressing flammable gases.

The whole system is based on a flame-retardant bag, placed inside the battery. Inside it we find a special combination of chemical extinguishing agent and coolant. If the temperature rises, the central unit releases a protective substance. This turns into a suppression foam capable of absorbing heat and smothering the flames, preventing the spread of fire and structural damage.

The system consists of two activation blades, which are managed by the control unit. These work in a coordinated manner. First, they release the foam and then inject the coolant from specific circuits. The resulting foam not only extinguishes the flames, but also thermally insulates the damaged cells. It also helps manage the gases produced in a controlled way through vent valves.

With all this, pressure inside the battery is kept under control, ensuring that the pressure within the battery pack remains controlled, making explosions and damage to the surroundings less likely.

Other solutions to prevent fires

Other solutions are being proposed by other companies, such as LG Chem. The patented proposal they have developed acts as a thermal barrier that blocks the spread of heat. Covestro proposes an encapsulating material designed to limit heat transfer between adjacent cells. All of them use different approaches, but all work to prevent and manage temperature rise situations and fire outbreaks, and to strengthen consumer confidence in electric vehicles.