Hyundai unveiled a robot to extinguish electric car fires in underground parking lots
By ForGeeks Hyundai Motor Group has taken the problem of electric car fires in underground parking lots seriously. In recent weeks, South Korea has experienced a number of incidents in which electric vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz EQE, Kia EV6 and Tesla Model X, have caught fire in underground parking lots in and around Seoul. The incidents have caused concern among the public, as most of the city’s residents live in high-rise buildings with underground parking lots.
These incidents have caused concern among the public, as most of the city’s residents live in high-rise buildings with underground parking lots.
A fire of an electric car in a confined space is particularly dangerous. For example, smoke from the Mercedes fire damaged 140 cars and hospitalized more than two dozen people, and extinguishing such fires has proven extremely difficult. This has had a negative impact on sales of electric cars, which is clearly not in the plans of Hyundai Motor Group, which seeks to take a leading position in the global market of electric cars and actively competes with Tesla.
Firefighting Robot
To solve the problem, Hyundai has unveiled an unusual solution – a remote-controlled firefighting robot. According to Yonhap News Agency, the company is working with South Korea’s National Fire Protection Agency and plans to start deploying such robots from 2026. The illustrations show the robot as a six-wheeled vehicle with a bright red color that resembles a tank. It is based on an existing unmanned platform from Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai’s industrial division.
The robot is based on an existing unmanned platform from Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai’s industrial division.
The robot is equipped with water cannons and is heat-resistant to fight fires of lithium-ion batteries, which can reach temperatures as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. These unmanned vehicles can perform dangerous tasks that are too risky for firefighters, especially in confined underground parking lots, where smoke and high temperatures spread quickly and huge amounts of water and specialized tools are needed to put out such fires.
Battery Manufacturing Control
Electric vehicle fires are less common than those of vehicles with internal combustion engines, but extinguishing them can be extremely difficult. In response to the growing concern, automakers and the South Korean government are taking steps to improve safety and buyer confidence.
South Korea’s electric vehicle industry is taking steps to improve safety and buyer confidence.
South Korea, which is actively supporting the development of its electric vehicle sector, is about to introduce mandatory battery disclosure rules. These rules will allow buyers to know what their cars’ batteries are made of and who the manufacturer is. Right now, battery information is often unavailable and it is difficult to determine not only the manufacturer but also the origin of the components.
South Korea, which is supporting the development of its electric vehicle sector, is about to introduce mandatory battery disclosure rules.
After a Chinese-made battery was identified as the cause of the Mercedes fire, many began blaming Chinese manufacturers for the lack of safety. However, as the Korea Herald notes, there is no evidence that batteries made in China are more prone to fires.
After the Mercedes fire was blamed on a Chinese-made battery, many began to blame Chinese manufacturers for the lack of safety.
Disclosure of battery information should help shoppers understand which batteries may be riskier. It’s likely that other countries will adopt similar measures.
Some of these measures are also likely to be adopted.
Testing of the robot will begin next year
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Hyundai’s firefighting robot will begin undergoing tests in the second half of next year. There is no word yet on its battery performance, range and charging speed.
Hyundai’s robot will begin testing in the second half of next year.
