A major car brand has announced it will make its fire safety technology available to all car manufacturers of electric vehicles in a bid to improve road safety.
Renault Group revealed it will allow its competitors to gain access to its patented technology which enables firefighters to extinguish electric vehicle battery fires in minutes rather than hours.
The move represents Renault's first initiative under its partnership with the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, demonstrating the company's commitment to improving road safety worldwide.
Car manufacturers and suppliers can now access the technology through Renault's open collaborative platform, with licensees agreeing to share any future improvements with the community.
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Electric car fires require 10 times more levels of water to put out than petrol and diesel fires
GETTYThe Fireman Access system uses an adhesive disc placed over an opening in the vehicle's traction battery casing.During normal operation, this disc effectively seals the battery compartment.
In the event of a fire reaching the battery, firefighters can direct a powerful water jet at the disc, which then dislodges to allow direct access to the battery cells.
This enables water to reach the source of the fire immediately, providing a fast and effective method of stopping thermal runaway in electric vehicle batteries.
"Innovating to improve road safety is part of who we are at Renault. We're particularly proud of the partnership developed with the fire services in recent years", said Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group.
He added: "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 technology also requires 10 times less water than traditional firefighting approaches for electric vehicle fires.This efficiency allows firefighters to return to operational readiness more quickly after tackling EV incidents.
The system is now fitted as standard across all electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold worldwide under the Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize brands.Seven patents have been filed for the innovative safety system.
Renault Group's commitment to road safety spans more than five decades, with 600 engineers and technicians dedicated to safety development.
The company operates three specialist technical centres in France, including facilities for crash testing, road handling, and advanced driving simulation.
The Group has filed over 2,000 safety-related patents since 1970. The company has trained more than 5,000 firefighters across 19 countries in Europe, North Africa and Latin America through its 15-year partnership with fire services.
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Renault has made its technology available to other car makers to help improve safety
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Despite electric car fires being less common than petrol and diesel ones, once the fire takes hold, they can be more difficult to put out due to them not requiring oxygen with vast amount of water needed to stop the fire.
