Renault Group now offers free licensure to its Fireman Access patents to help streamline electric vehicle emergency response.

Car manufacturers and parts suppliers can obtain a license through an open collaborative platform at www.renault.fr/universalpatent. Any upgrades will be made available to other members of the community.

“The result of close collaboration between Renault Group and the fire services, Fireman Access is an exclusive innovation allowing emergency services to put out a fire on an electric vehicle in roughly the same time as on a combustion vehicle,” a Renault press release states.

“From a technical standpoint, an adhesive disc is placed over an opening in the casing of the vehicle’s traction battery, effectively sealing it for normal use. If the vehicle catches fire and the flames spread to the battery, the powerful jet from the fire hose dislodges the disc and drenches the cells in water — the only fast and effective way of stopping thermal runaway.”

Renault says Fireman Access can extinguish a battery fire in less than 10 minutes compared to an average of four hours and with 10 times less water than necessary without the feature.

Seven patents have been filed for the system, which is now fitted on all electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold by Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize worldwide.

“Innovating to improve road safety is part of who we are at Renault,” said Luca de Meo, Renault Group CEO, in the release. “We’re particularly proud of the partnership developed with the fire services in recent years. 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. …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.”

Renault says its road safety policy revolves around four key areas — preventing, correcting, protecting, and rescuing — and uses technologies that step in before, during, and after road crashes.

“This continuous improvement journey, which started more than 50 years ago, is based on an accidentology database that is unmatched worldwide, the expertise of dedicated teams, and close cooperation with rescue services, the scientific and academic community, partner manufacturers, and public authorities all working together to harness technology that puts people at the centre and makes mobility safer and accessible for all,” the Renault release states.

By developing advanced accident prevention systems, driving assist systems, passive and post-crash safety equipment, and accelerating the development of onboard technologies Renault says it’s helping improve safety for all road users through its Human First program.

Launched in 2023, the program is based on a collaboration between Renault’s accidentology, biomechanics and human behavior lab; engineers, safety experts, product managers, rescue services, and fire services. Coupled with the latest technological innovations such as AI, it allows Renault to develop new solutions to decrease the number of vehicle accidents, the release states.

“By sharing safety innovations Renault demonstrates its leadership and commitment that safety has to be considered a human right,” said Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, in a video shared by Renault.

Images

All images provided by Renault Group