Hyundai Mobis has developed a new technology that automatically sprays fire extinguishing agent to immediately extinguish a fire in an electric vehicle battery cell. This technology prevents heat from being transferred to adjacent cells, thereby preventing thermal runaway, and is evaluated as an innovative technology that has not yet been commercialized in the global market.

Hyundai Mobis announced on the 14th that it has designed a battery system that goes beyond simple thermal runaway delay and blocks it at the source by utilizing heat-resistant materials.

Major countries such as Europe, China, and India are strengthening regulations to delay thermal runaway for at least five minutes after the initial ignition of a battery cell, and some countries are promoting laws to prevent thermal runaway itself.

Accordingly, the battery system (BSA) with cell-level digestion function developed by Hyundai Mobis is expected to attract attention as a next-generation safety technology in the global market.

The BSA developed by Hyundai Mobis includes hardware such as a battery management system (BMS), a fire extinguishing device, and a battery case, as well as software logic that controls them.

The BMS analyzes the temperature, voltage, and internal pressure of the battery based on real-time data collected by sensors to determine abnormalities and is designed to spray extinguishing agents to the correct location in the event of a fire.

Additionally, it is possible to respond quickly and precisely based on high-reliability judgment logic with multiple safety devices and a dual algorithm structure.

The battery system is equipped with a 3.3 kg fire extinguishing agent capacity, which is five times more than that of a typical household fire extinguisher, and is composed of components with excellent cooling and insulation properties and are harmless to the environment and human body.

Through this technology development, Hyundai Mobis has applied for three domestic and international patents related to battery cases and fire extinguishing devices. It includes piping for fire extinguishing agents and design technology to spray agents under high pressure.

“As large electric vehicles with longer driving ranges are introduced, battery safety standards are becoming more stringent,” said Park Yong-jun, managing director and head of Hyundai Mobis’ Battery System Research Lab. “We will lead the global market by developing an advanced battery system that integrates hardware and software.”