The Korean Automotive Engineering Society announced that on the 19th, a seminar focused on the development of fire response technology for electric vehicles, which has recently become a hot topic in the mobility industry, was held during the ‘2024 Korean Automotive Engineering Society Spring Conference’.
Established in December last year to strengthen the competitiveness of the electric vehicle industry, the ‘Electric Vehicle Fire Response Technology Industry-Academia Committee’ has embarked on research aimed at developing fire response technologies for electric vehicles. The committee set up a special session at this academic conference to share their research progress and future research directions.
This seminar, organized by the Electric Vehicle Fire Response Technology Industry-Academia Committee and sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company, featured presentations from important figures in academia. Among these were Hyundai Motor’s Team Leader Kang Goo-bae discussing ‘Direction of Electric Vehicle Battery Technology Development,’ Dr. Nah Yong-woon from the National Fire Research Institute on ‘Research on Characteristics and Suppression for Electric Vehicle Fire Response in Underground Parking Spaces,’ Professor Kim Jin-yong from Hanyang University focusing on ‘Development of Simulation Tools for Lithium-ion Batteries Considering Thermal Runaway and Combustion Phenomena,’ Professor Kim Han-sang from Seoul National University of Science and Technology on ‘Establishing Smoke Diffusion Simulation Processes and Investigating Smoke Extraction and Ventilation Standards for Electric Vehicle Fires in Underground Parking Lots,’ and Professor Seo Jeong-hwan from Hongik University discussing ‘Development of Rapid Fire Detection Systems Through Off-gas Detection in Underground Parking Lots.’ There were more research results presented by leading scholars including Professor Park Kwang-jin from Gachon University on ‘Research on Gas Emission and Fire Behavior Characteristics of Lithium-ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles.’
At the seminar, Hyundai Motor’s R&D Headquarters Battery Development Center Team Leader Kang Goo-bae stated, “Hyundai Motor Group is continuously advancing its Battery Management System (BMS) technology, which diagnoses abnormal battery behavior in real time, and battery systems that prevent heat transfer and external flame exposure. Moreover, we are doing our utmost to build a safe future mobility environment through the development of safety structures and firefighting technologies that can be applied in the event of a fire.”
Following this, Dr. Nah Yong-woon from the National Fire Research Institute remarked, “Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicle fires are difficult to handle on-site, and the spread rate is faster. Hence, we need new and swift fire suppression techniques. We are currently verifying the effectiveness of an ‘upward water spray system’ that sprays water from beneath the vehicle and researching technology that enables quick responses by detecting fires using CCTV footage.”
During the subsequent academic presentations, current technological research statuses and future plans for detecting electric vehicle fire causes and taking action post-fire were shared.
A representative from the Korean Automotive Engineering Society stated, “The collaboration between industry, academia, and research for electric vehicle fire response will serve to make it safer for consumers to use electric vehicles. We will aim to promote not only technology development but also legislative measures related to firefighting and construction.”
Meanwhile, the Korean Automotive Engineering Society, founded in 1978, currently has over 46,000 individual members, along with over 760 corporate members including five vehicle manufacturers and various research institutions and libraries. They publish around 230 automotive-related papers annually through IJAT, listed in SCIE, and other journals listed in SCOPUS. Additionally, they contribute to the advancement of automotive engineering and industry in Korea through hosting international conferences, automotive technology exhibitions, technical education, standardization, and student vehicle competitions.
Additionally, since 1986, the Korean Automotive Engineering Society has been holding spring and autumn academic conferences annually to present research findings from automotive experts and provide a platform for the exchange of the latest automotive-related information.
For more detailed information about the 2024 Korean Automotive Engineering Society Spring Conference, a platform for exchanging technical trends and related information in the automotive field, please check the website.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr