Renault Group releases patent for EV battery fire extinguishing tool to automotive industry

Renault Group has decided to make the Fireman Access patents freely available to the entire automotive industry. Car manufacturers and parts suppliers can now obtain a free license for this innovation through an open collaborative platform. In return, as part of this collaborative principle, licensees agree that any upgrades will be made available to other members of the community.

“Innovating to improve road safety is part of who we are at Renault,” says Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group. “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."

The result of close collaboration between Renault Group and the fire services, Fireman Access is an innovation allowing emergency services to put out a fire on an electric vehicle (EV) in roughly the same time as on a combustion vehicle. From a technical standpoint, 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 10x as much water without this feature. Fireman Access thereby enables firefighters to return to operational readiness more quickly. 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.

This initiative is the first practical expression of the commitment made by Renault Group 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.