최근 5년간 전기차 화재 건수가 325% 증가하며 전기차 화재 공포증이 커지고 있다. 전기차 화재는 배터리 온도가 지속적으로 상승하고 오프가스가 방출된 후 최초 발화까지 약 40분 이상 소요되는 특징이 있는 것으로 전해져 발화전 초기 연기 감지가 화재 대응의 핵심 역량으로 지적되고 있다.
Monitor 30 vehicles with one camera
42% of apartment residents respond to regular monitoring
The number of electric vehicle fires has increased by 325% over the past five years, and the fear of electric vehicle fires is growing. It is reported that electric vehicle fires are characterized by a continuous rise in battery temperature, the release of off-gas, and the initial ignition, which takes about 40 minutes or more, and so early smoke detection before ignition is pointed out as a key capability in fire response.
Vision AI solution company Alchera announced on the 4th that it will enter the domestic indoor fire market by introducing an electric vehicle fire detection AI solution.
Alchera announced that it successfully commercialized 'FireScout', an AI solution for early detection of wildfires, in the United States and Australia in 2021, and completed the first development of an AI solution for electric vehicle fire detection in Korea based on this.
In fact, it is reported that they are planning to make a full-scale market entry starting next month, as more than 50% of fire accidents are concentrated between June and August.
Thermal imaging cameras, which are mainly used in apartment indoor parking lots, have the disadvantage of not being able to detect smoke. They can detect fire after the vehicle has ignited, making initial response impossible. In addition, they have limitations in that they have high installation costs and can only monitor up to three electric vehicles per camera, limiting their efficiency.
Accordingly, Alchera has launched the first smoke detection solution through an electric vehicle fire detection AI solution that can be linked with CCTV. Up to 30 vehicles can be monitored per camera, significantly improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to existing systems.
In a survey conducted by Alchera last year targeting 115 apartment management office managers nationwide, 55.7% of residents answered that the level of stress they experience from electric vehicle fires is ‘serious,’ accounting for more than half. In addition, ‘constant monitoring and situational awareness’ recorded the highest response rate at 42.6% as the most necessary improvement measure (multiple responses) in the current situation.
Alchera CEO Hwang Young-gyu said, “Last August, an electric vehicle fire in an underground parking lot in Cheongna, Incheon burned 600 cars and caused damages of 10 billion won. The damage was beyond imagination.” He explained, “Since more than 50% of fires occur during the summer, thorough prevention and response measures are absolutely necessary to prepare for the coming summer, and we must never again experience electric vehicle fire accidents.”