Hybrid thermal runaway mitigation strategy for lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications: evaluating the role of phase change materials

Concerns around the safety of electric vehicle battery technology is one of the main obstacles hindering the adoption of electrified transport. When thermal runaway events do occur, they pose a very serious threat to the safety of the occupants and potential for property damage. A coupled chemical kinetics and thermal model is being developed to predict the propagation of thermal runaway events in an array, when a hybrid liquid cooling and phase change material prevention system is implemented, while also considering the feasibility of integration to current electric vehicle architecture. Plans for physical testing using cell analogues will be outlined.