"No Electric Vehicle Fires Due to Overcharging"... Hyundai Motor and Kia Unveil 'BMS'

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia unveiled their core technology responsible for electric vehicle safety, the 'Battery Management System (BMS),' on the 15th. This move is interpreted as an effort to overcome consumer concerns following a recent fire in an underground parking lot in Incheon.

On this day, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia introduced the BMS technology as "a technology perfected by accumulating and advancing over 15 years of in-house development know-how, representing the best example of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's research and development (R&D) capabilities."

The BMS acts as the 'brain' that comprehensively manages and protects the battery, while also providing the control information necessary for electric vehicles to use the battery. It essentially supervises the battery, which stores a high amount of energy.

One of the main functions of the BMS is the precise 'battery system monitoring' feature that ensures the battery operates safely. When it detects abnormal signs in the battery, it immediately assesses the risk level and performs vehicle safety control. The abnormal sign data is sent to a remote support center, and then an automatic text message is sent to the customer, guiding them to bring the vehicle in for inspection or emergency dispatch.

Recent vehicle models have added a function to detect instantaneous and micro short circuits that can identify potential defects from several days or weeks prior. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia plan to develop a system that automatically notifies relevant authorities if a serious problem is detected. They are also developing an 'onboard-cloud integrated safety management system' that utilizes advanced diagnostic technology and cloud server-based remote precision diagnostics.

Another key role of the BMS is to prevent battery overcharging through a three-stage process. A multi-safety system that fundamentally blocks overcharging at each of the three stages has been applied through focused monitoring of the charging status and close cooperative control with the charging controller.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia stated, "So far, there have been no fires caused by overcharging in our electric vehicles," adding, "The possibility of problems caused by overcharging is close to 0%."

They also explained, "Battery fires can occur due to various causes, but most are due to cell defects or cell short circuits caused by impact," and added, "The BMS also includes 'Cell Balancing' technology that comprehensively manages the internal cells of the battery to optimally maintain durability and performance."