Renault's invention that allows you to extinguish an electric car fire in minutes

Never before in the automotive world has a technology provoked such polarization as 100% electric cars. Beyond the debates about whether or not they are suitable for long journeys, whether they are expensive, or whether there are charging stations, nothing ignites the fuse—literally—quite like images of one of these vehicles burning. The fire in a garage in Alcorcón (Madrid) in which two firefighters died was the latest example, although it was later revealed that the car that burned was… a plug-in hybrid.

However, a study by the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates 25 fires per 100,000 electric vehicles sold and 1,529 fires per 100,000 internal combustion engine vehicles. Meanwhile, in Spain, AEDIVE (Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility) established, based on a sample of 736,000 vehicles (approximately 28,000 of which were electric), that the probability of fire for electric vehicles was 2.9 per 10,000 vehicles, compared to 3.1 for gasoline and 3.7 for diesel.

Demonstration in Madrid

In summary, they are not inherently more dangerous, but their failure mode generates different effects, requires different protocols, and their media presence is much more striking.

To demonstrate this, Renault Group organized an event in Madrid to show that a fire of this type can be extinguished in a few minutes and with an expenditure of 'only' 1,300 liters of water, when the average is three hours and 11,000 liters.

Fireman Access

The key is Fireman Access, a valve located in the battery that allows firefighters to inject pressurized water to extinguish the fire in minutes. A few months ago, the French company released the patent so that any other car manufacturer could use it.

The demonstration took place during the "Renault Group Safety Day," a training event for over 200 firefighters from across Spain. It involved a controlled fire in a fully electric Renault Megane E-Tech. Starting with the front seats, the fire spread throughout the car in no time, but firefighters needed only 10 minutes to extinguish it, spending about five minutes on the passenger compartment and bodywork, and another five minutes or so on the battery.

Faster and safer release

Additionally, an extrication simulation was also carried out using the QRescue system, a QR code visible on the windshield that provides immediate information about the vehicle's architecture—location of the battery, airbags, or safe cut points—reducing intervention time by up to 15 minutes.

The session, organized in collaboration with the 112 Emergency and Security Agency, is part of the Human First program, a global Renault strategy aimed at reducing road accidents and improving emergency response. The event was opened by Pedro A. Ruiz Escobar, Director General of the Madrid 112 Emergency and Security Agency, and featured a presentation by César Lorenzo, Director of the Renault Group Spain R&D Center, who showcased the company's key safety innovations.

Three lines of action

During his presentation, Lorenzo emphasized that Renault works with a comprehensive approach focused on three pillars: detect, guide, and act. To this end, the group has developed three complementary systems: Safety Score, which analyzes the user's driving and provides a score and personalized recommendations; Safety Coach, which guides the driver in real time with tips based on Artificial Intelligence; and Safety Guardian, which integrates all vehicle and environmental data to automatically intervene when it detects risky situations.

The day included a theoretical masterclass given by Claire Petit-Boulanger and Nicolas Granier, safety experts from Renault Group, which addressed aspects such as the management of high-voltage batteries, action protocols in case of accident or fire, and the use of real-time digital rescue cards.