"Actively Cooperating with Government's Comprehensive Measures on Electric Vehicle Fires"
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have decided to provide free electric vehicle (EV) safety inspection services even after the free warranty period to ensure peace of mind regarding EV fires. Additionally, the battery diagnosis notification feature, which alerts customers via text message about potential battery abnormalities, will continue to be offered beyond the complimentary period of the connected service (Blue Link).
On the 6th, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced customer service and research and development (R&D) response measures for safe EV operation. They introduced specific response plans linked to the comprehensive EV fire safety management measures announced by the government on the same day.
Hyundai and Kia have committed to conducting the EV safety inspection service annually regardless of the free warranty period, a service that has been ongoing since August. The safety inspection service is a program that provides free inspections of key EV components to EV owners. To date, over 40,000 EVs have completed the inspection.
Furthermore, they plan to expand registration for the customer notification system that detects battery abnormalities and sends alerts via text messages. Corporate vehicles registered under company names, such as leased or rental cars, cannot properly receive cell abnormality diagnosis notifications from the Battery Management System (BMS). Therefore, Hyundai and Kia plan to persuade and promote the registration of the actual users’ names for corporate vehicles to large corporations and enterprises. They also intend to continue providing the battery diagnosis notification feature even after the free support period for the Blue Link connected service.
Hyundai and Kia are also focusing their capabilities on research and development (R&D) to produce safe batteries. They are advancing error diagnosis technology for battery systems and enhancing their ability to develop technologies that delay or prevent flame exposure.
They have developed an "Onboard-Cloud Integrated Safety Management System," a remote precision diagnosis system using machine learning models, to enable more precise and rapid detection of battery abnormal signs. Additionally, they plan to strengthen development of emergency vent, fire-resistant, and heat transfer prevention structural design technologies that prevent fires originating in one cell from spreading to others.
Research on EV firefighting technology is also underway. To effectively suppress fires in EVs, Hyundai and Kia are collaborating with the Fire Research Institute, the Society of Automotive Engineers, universities, and others to jointly develop new firefighting technologies. Hyundai and Kia have invested 5.6 billion KRW in this project, which began in March.
Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia have pledged to actively participate in pilot projects linked to the comprehensive EV fire safety measures announced by the government on the same day, supporting government efforts.
To minimize damage in case of fire, they plan to establish a system that quickly delivers information about abnormal battery cell signs so that firefighting personnel can be dispatched immediately. This involves subdividing the BMS’s pre-diagnosis codes to notify fire stations instantly, securing the golden time for response.
A Hyundai and Kia official stated, "Creating an environment where customers can drive EVs with peace of mind is more important than ever. We will continuously develop technologies and services to lead the popularization of EVs and contribute to the national economy based on strong product competitiveness."
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