Hyundai and Kia—both brands under Hyundai Motor Company—unveiled a safer battery management system (BMS), defusing electric vehicle (EV) fire fears currently gripping South Korea.
On Thursday, August 15, 2024, Hyundai Motor and Kia shared their efforts to improve the safety of their vehicles through hardware and software development. The automakers unveiled a safer battery management system based on 15 years of experience and Research&Development efforts.
“Hyundai Motor Group’s EVs incorporate a comprehensive range of safety technologies developed based on the expertise and experience accumulated so far. We are committed to ensuring that customers worldwide can feel safe driving our EVs,” commented a Hyundai official.
A vital function of the BMS is monitoring the car’s battery system, ensuring it operates efficiently and safely. According to Hyundai and Kia, the new BMS monitors various factors, including voltage deviations, insulation resistance, current and voltage changes, temperature, and over- or under-voltage conditions.
Any malfunctions detected by the BMS will initiate vehicle safety protocols. The system may also transmit any abnormal data to remote support centers affiliated with Hyundai or Kia, allowing the support center to automatically text customers about the issue.
“The BMS focuses on monitoring the charging state and maintains close coordination with charging controllers, effectively preventing overcharging. As a result, the likelihood of issues caused by overcharging is close to zero percent,” said an official from Hyundai.
EV battery safety has become a hot topic in South Korea after an electric Mercedes-Benz caught fire earlier this month, causing irreparable damage to over 100 vehicles in an underground parking lot. In response to the blaze, South Korea’s environment ministry called an emergency meeting to discuss EV fire safety.
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