Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Unveil Core Battery Safety Technologies
New Cars Equipped with Battery Micro-Short Detection Software
Existing Electric Vehicles to Receive Software Updates by Year-End
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Report Zero Overcharge Fire Incidents
Three-Stage Multi-Safety Technology Applied to Prevent Overcharging
Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Genesis have implemented a technology that periodically monitors the battery status of electric vehicles and sends text alerts to owners if any abnormal signs are detected. This measure aims to ensure that owners can drive safe electric vehicles amid growing concerns about fires originating from EV batteries. Currently, this technology is applied to Hyundai and Genesis electric vehicles, and Kia will begin pilot operations starting next week.
On the 15th, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia (including Genesis) unveiled key technologies to secure electric vehicle safety. In particular, they determined that the recently developed micro and instantaneous battery short-circuit detection software (SW) technology helps prevent battery fires in advance. This technology will be applied to new vehicles and gradually expanded to already sold electric vehicles through updates by the end of the year.
BMS Responsible for the Safety of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Electric Vehicles [Source: Hyundai Motor Company and Kia]
Electric vehicles equipped with this technology monitor the battery in real-time during driving, charging, or parking through the BMS (Battery Management System), which can be considered the "brain of the battery." Even when the ignition is off, the system periodically wakes up to precisely check for abnormal signs in the battery cells.
The items monitored by the BMS include ▲voltage deviation ▲insulation resistance ▲current and voltage changes ▲temperature ▲overvoltage and undervoltage. Additionally, recently released vehicles have added instantaneous and micro short-circuit detection functions that can preemptively identify potentially defective cells.
When the BMS detects a problem with the battery, it autonomously performs necessary safety controls and sends inspection guidance messages to the owner via text depending on the severity of the risk. The abnormal sign data diagnosed by the BMS is immediately transmitted to the remote support center.
Furthermore, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are developing a system that immediately notifies relevant authorities if a serious problem is detected. They are also developing an "Onboard-Cloud Integrated Safety Management System" that integrates remote precision diagnostics based on cloud servers using physical and machine learning models.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Achieve Zero Overcharge Fire Incidents in EVs Thanks to Smart BMS
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have significantly reduced the risk of fires occurring during electric vehicle charging. They stated, "There has not been a single fire caused by overcharging among our electric vehicles," adding, "The BMS monitors the charging status and fundamentally blocks overcharging, making the possibility of problems due to overcharging close to zero."
The overcharge prevention technology in Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles consists of a three-stage safety mechanism. The first stage involves the BMS and charging controller continuously managing the charging current to ensure the battery is charged within the allowable range. The second stage activates a system where the BMS immediately commands charging to stop if the charge level deviates from the normal range. The third stage involves a physical safety circuit that forcibly cuts off the switch if both the vehicle and battery controllers fail.
The BMS maintains optimal battery cell performance through the 'Cell Balancing' technology. Since the overall battery performance deteriorates if even one cell among the many in the battery pack underperforms, the BMS performs balancing control to reduce voltage deviations between cells. It also continuously calculates and controls the maximum output the battery can provide by comprehensively considering battery temperature and condition.
A Hyundai Motor Company and Kia official said, "Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicles embody the technology and know-how accumulated by our research personnel over 15 years," and added, "We will continue to strive to develop new safety technologies so that customers worldwide can drive our electric vehicles with confidence."
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