Full-scale fire testing of battery electric vehicles

The market share of electric vehicles, powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIB), has been expanding worldwide with the global momentum towards green technology and improving driving range on one full-charge. Studies are, however, still required fire safety latest but unmatured due to a distinctive phenomenon called thermal runaway. In this study, series full-scale experiments were conducted, focusing understanding behaviours battery vehicle (BEV) fires. To provide up-to-date information BEV fires, model high electric-energy capacity (64 kWh) was selected. For comparative analysis purposes, LIB pack body tested individually after being physically disassembled. An internal combustion engine hydrogen fuel cell also tested. During testing, fires continued for approximately 70 min, resulting in critical measures burning determined; peak heat release rate (pHRR), total released (THR), growth parameter, average effective measured be 6.51–7.25 MW, 8.45–9.03 GJ, 0.0085–0.020, 29.8–30.5 MJ/kg, respectively. It observed that pHRR THR governed characteristics typical combustible materials passenger cabin, rather than particular contents Instead, jet intensively discharging from led rapid flame spreading adjacent components BEV, thereby accelerating growth. findings could contribute activities first responders accidents, engineers, structural member designers. This study makes public quantities further studies existing or designing car-parking related structures.