Carmaker’s new ‘safety’ feature ejects EV batteries like a cannon
A car manufacturer’s eccentric solution to EV battery fires – ejecting the entire power pack out one side at speed – has left motoring experts scratching their heads. Watch the live demo
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An overseas carmaker has won our prize for craziest car “safety” feature, after footage of a rapid-fire* battery ejection suggested the innovation would potentially do more harm than good.
In a video shared on X, the China Vehicle Collision Repair Technical and Research Centre demonstrated how a vehicle built by Chinese manufacturer FAW could forcefully eject a damaged battery pack in the event of a serious fault.
The safety system was designed to work in a similar fashion to airbags, which erupt out of interior trim after being propelled by small explosive charges in the event of impact.
According to the research centre, the tech could safely remove batteries that were beginning to overheat or enter “thermal runaway”, a reaction that could cause fires. This novel approach would protect passengers and reduce the risk of damaging the rest of the car.
The vehicle used in the prototype* demonstration appeared to be a Bestune model.
Carmaker Bestune is under the FAW group, which has gained attention for offering battery swapping technology.
The Chinese carmaker provides its customers with the ability to exchange a flat battery for a charged one in just a few minutes, by driving through a battery swapping station.
The brand’s NAT model was the first to work with the Evogo swapping network, which allows drivers to rent the number of battery modules they need for a trip.
Bestune vehicles are not currently sold in Australia, and no EVs available locally offer battery swapping or ejection systems.
However, while the ejection concept aimed to improve safety, it also raised immediate concerns.
Some social media users questioned whether ejecting a heavy battery pack could create new risks.
One comment read: “Are we trying to kill pedestrians instead of putting vehicle occupants at risk?”
While another commenter said, “absolutely annihilating* the kids walking down the sidewalk.”
According to the user who originally posted the video, it would only work under specific conditions, where the car had at least 6m of free space on its side, free of anything flammable*.
The prototype technology is unlikely to be something we’ll soon see on Australian roads.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said there were “serious safety and practical concerns” with the safety system.
“EV battery fires are very rare, but in the event one does occur, the last thing we want is the battery being ejected out of the vehicle like a cannon,” he said.
“That does not sound even remotely safe.
“In the rare event of an EV battery fire, the NRMA recommend that people exit the vehicle safely, call emergency services and stay at a distance. Don’t try to put it out yourself.”
The prototype demonstration comes at a time when government officials are becoming increasingly concerned about growing EV-related incidents.
Recently, China announced it would look to investigate whether it would ban power-operated handles that sat flush* with car doors, following a series of incidents that left drivers trapped inside thanks to a damaged battery fault.
Flush door handles have become popular among electric vehicle owners as they improve aerodynamic* efficiency and driving range.
In one case, an electric door handle motor froze, preventing passengers from escaping and causing them to miss a critical rescue opportunity.
And in the same year, during Guangdong’s rainy season, heavy storms short-circuited door handles on some vehicles, forcing passengers to break their car windows to escape.
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GLOSSARY
- rapid-fire: shot out very quickly
- prototype: the first example of a machine or other industrial product, a model or test case
- annihilating: defeating or destroying something completely so that nothing is left
- flammable: can easily catch fire and burn quickly
- flush: integrated, on the same level so that no part is higher or lower or sticks out more than another
- aerodynamic: a car has an aerodynamic shape or design, it goes faster and uses less fuel than other cars because the air passes over it more easily
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QUICK QUIZ
- The vehicle used in the prototype demonstration appeared to be what model of Chinese car?
- What were the two specific conditions named as being needed for the ejection system to work?
- What does the Evogo swapping network do?
- What does NRMA recommend in the rare event of an EV battery fire?
- Why have flush door handles become popular?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Plan a swapping station
Do you think that we should have car battery swapping stations in Australia? Write a proposal to the government that describes the advantages and possible problems, and outlines a plan for how a swapping station would work.
Time: allow at least 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technology
2. Extension
Can you think of a safer way to protect cars – and people – from damaged or faulty batteries in electric vehicles? Create a design for your ideas that is safe and practical.
Time: allow at least 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links English, Design and Technology
VCOP ACTIVITY
Creative vocabulary
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any ‘said’ words with more specific synonyms?
Have you outdone yourself and used some really great vocabulary throughout your writing? First, well done. Second, let’s ensure everyone can understand it by adding a glossary of terms. Pick three of your wow words and create a glossary for each word to explain what it means.