• The new system prevents heat from spreading, fighting a fire early by releasing an agent within five minutes of initial ignition.
• As major countries are pushing for mandatory measures to prevent thermal decontrol, the system is expected to be in the spotlight as a next-generation safety technology on the global market.
• The company has applied for three patents, including a battery case design, and has been investing in improving the battery system, including the development of an anti-overheating material.

A model of the battery system equipped with fire extinguishing agents developed by Hyundai Mobis (Photo: Disclosure)

Fires in electric vehicles are more dangerous than in combustion vehicles because the lithium-ion battery can release flammable heat, gases and liquids. As well as being difficult to control and releasing toxic substances, these fires have a high risk of starting again, especially at high temperatures or if flammable materials leak out.

For this reason, Hyundai Mobis has developed a new technology capable of fighting a possible fire by emitting a fire extinguishing agent when a battery cell catches fire. This is the first technology that can prevent thermal runaway, preventing the heat from spreading.

The main countries in Europe, as well as China and India, have determined that thermal runaway must be stopped for at least five minutes after the initial spark from the battery cell, while some countries are tightening their regulations to prevent thermal transfer from occurring in the first place. In this way, Hyundai Mobis’ battery system assembly (BSA) with cell-level fire-fighting capability is expected to stand out as a state-of-the-art safety technology in the global market.

The BSA developed by Hyundai Mobis consists of a battery management system (BMS), a piece of hardware made up of a fire-fighting device and a battery box, as well as the software logic that controls them.

Based on the data collected in real time by the sensors, it analyzes the temperature and voltage of the battery, as well as the pressure inside the battery system, to determine any abnormalities. It then defines the location where the extinguishing agent will be applied and commands the operation of the fire-fighting device.

The battery system is equipped with a fire extinguishing agent with a capacity five times greater than that of a 3.3 kg household fire extinguisher. The substance is composed of cooling, insulating and permeable properties, as well as being harmless to the environment and the human body. 

Hyundai Mobis has also applied for three national and international patents, including a battery box and a fire-fighting device. They also include piping for fire extinguishing agents and a design that allows the application of high pressure.

“As large electric vehicles with longer driving ranges emerge, safety standards for battery systems are becoming more stringent,” said Park Yong Jun, vice president of the Battery Systems Research and Development 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.”   

Hyundai Mobis has also recently developed a new material that prevents the battery from overheating, the “Pulsating Heat Pipe” (PHP) technology, which reduces the internal temperature of the battery that increases during fast charging.

So far, there is no forecast for the arrival of these new technologies in vehicles produced in Brazil.

About Hyundai Mobis Brazil

Founded on July 1, 1977, Hyundai Mobis is a Hyundai Group company that manufactures automotive parts based in Seoul, South Korea. By offering high-quality products, technologies and services, Hyundai Mobis has strengthened its position in the automotive parts sector to become the sixth largest global automotive parts supplier by 2023. Hyundai Mobis currently has more than 30,000 employees, more than two-thirds of whom are based outside Korea, in subsidiaries around the world. In Brazil, Hyundai Mobis had its plant established in 2012 at the Piracicaba Automotive Park (SP), starting its activities in September of the same year. With over 600 employees, Hyundai Mobis has three operational units and one administrative unit in the country. Visit our institutional website (www.hyundaimobis.com.br) and our social networks: Facebook (www.facebook.com/hyundaimobis), Instagram (www.instagram.com/hyundaimobisbr), YouTube (www.youtube.com/@hyundaimobisbr) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/hyundai-mobis/).

About Hyundai Motor Brazil/Hyundai Motor Central & South Americas

Hyundai Motor Brasil has been present in the country since 2012, when it opened its plant in Piracicaba (SP). With 3,200 employees, it is responsible for manufacturing and marketing the HB20 compact vehicle range and the Creta compact SUV. Recently, it began to coordinate everything from imports to final distribution of the brand’s complete vehicle portfolio in the country. From Brazil, Hyundai manages commercial operations for the Central and South American region, exporting to neighboring countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay. To find out more about Hyundai and its products in Brazil, visit hyundai.com.br. You can also keep up to date with the brand on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/hyundaibr), Instagram (instagram.com/hyundaibr), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/hyundai-motor-brasil), TikTok (tiktok.com/@hyundaibr) and YouTube (youtube.com/hyundaibr).

About Hyundai Motor Company

Founded in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in more than 200 countries with around 120,000employees dedicated to tackling mobility challenges around the world. Based on the brand vision “Progress for Humanity”, Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a provider of intelligent mobility solutions. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring revolutionary solutions, while seeking open innovation to develop future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles equipped with the latest electrification technology, leading the hydrogen fuel cell industry. More information about Hyundai Motor Company and its products can be found at worldwide.hyundai.com or globalpr.hyundai.com.