Hyundai, Kia develop advanced firefighting technology to make electric vehicles safer

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors signed an agreement to jointly develop firefighting technology for electric vehicles at the El Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Monday (18th), with representatives from Hyundai Motor Company, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Korea Society of Automotive Engineers, and five universities participating in the research.

The signing ceremony for the joint development agreement was attended by Hyundai Motor Group officials, including Yang Hee-won, President and CEO of Hyundai-Kia R&D, Kim Dong-wook, Vice President of Strategic Planning, and Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Director of the Battery Development Centre, as well as Nam Hwa-young, Chief of the National Fire Service, Kim Yeon-sang, President of the National Fire Service Research Institute, and Jeon Byung-wook, President of the Korea Society of Automotive Engineers.

The goal of the joint development agreement is to improve the ability to quickly detect and respond to electric vehicle fires. To this end, we will continue to cooperate in all aspects, including developing source technology, developing field application technology, and researching institutionalisation plans.

The Original Technology Development Division conducts research on the characteristics of electric vehicles centred on universities. Research on behavioural characteristics of electric vehicle fires (Gachon University, Chung-Ang University, Fire Research Institute), research on predicting the spread of electric vehicle fires (Hanyang University), and research on guidelines for extinguishing and exhausting electric vehicle fires in underground spaces (Seoul National University of Science and Technology) are conducted to secure data and lay the foundation for securing technology.

The Field Application Technology Development Division aims to apply various firefighting technologies to the field. It develops technologies that can be applied in the real world, such as the development of an upward main water system for underground car parks, the development of fire extinguishing equipment for charging areas, fire characteristic detection based on pattern recognition of fire images (Sang Sang Fire Research Institute), rapid fire detection technology (Hongik University), and the development of VR training contents for firefighters (Fire Research Institute).

The Institutionalisation Options Research Subcommittee, run by the Society of Automotive Engineers, conducts research on trends in electric vehicle fire suppression technologies and efficient institutionalisation options to help ensure that safety-enhancing technologies can be quickly legislated.

In addition to managing the overall project, Hyundai Motor Group will actively support equipment, vehicles, and parts for each research project to produce effective results.

"Our goal is not only to develop firefighting technologies, but also to promote firefighting and building-related legislation," said Hee-won Yang, President of Hyundai-Kia R&D. "We expect this collaboration to help customers use electric vehicles more safely."

Meanwhile, Hyundai-Kia continues to receive positive recognition for its commitment to safe mobility, with 16 of its vehicles receiving Top Safety Pick (TSP) or better ratings in the latest crash tests released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the most of any global automotive group.

Article roadtesting editorial (dhseo1208@gmail.com)

Photo Hyundai Motor Company