Renault Shares Life-Saving EV Fire Safety Technology
The Renault Group has made its patented Fireman Access system—designed to improve safety for EVs—freely available to the global automotive industry. Developed in collaboration with fire services, Fireman Access allows emergency responders to extinguish EV battery fires in just minutes, compared to hours without the system. The move aligns with Renault Group's ongoing commitment to road safety and its partnership with the United Nations to make mobility safer worldwide.
Fireman Access: Enhancing EV fire safety
Fireman Access was created through close cooperation between Renault Group and fire services. It features an adhesive disc placed over an opening in the vehicle's battery casing, sealing it during everyday use. If a fire spreads to the battery, the water jet from a fire hose dislodges the disc and drenches the battery cells—a quick, effective way to stop thermal runaway.
The process significantly reduces the time and water needed to extinguish an EV battery fire, enabling firefighters to return to operational readiness faster.
Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group highlighted the importance of this innovation:
"Innovating to improve road safety is part of who we are at Renault. We're particularly proud of the partnership developed with the fire services in recent years. Today, I'm delighted to be making this innovation freely available, because when it comes to a subject like safety, we need to break down all the barriers."
Fireman Access is now installed in all Renault Group's electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles under its Dacia, Alpine and Mobilise brands. The system's open licensing policy allows other car manufacturers and parts suppliers to implement the technology and share any improvements with the broader automotive community.
Strengthening Renault's global road safety commitment
The initiative demonstrates Renault's commitment to supporting the United Nations' efforts to promote road safety. It recently participated in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, focusing on Renault's efforts to improve global road safety.
At the national level, Renault Group Morocco is using the event to strengthen ties with relevant local authorities and highlight its initiatives to raise school road safety awareness.
Renault Group's Human First program exemplifies its comprehensive approach to road safety. Launched in 2023, the programme brings together engineers, safety experts, rescue services and the LAB (Renault's accident research lab) to develop advanced safety solutions. It uses artificial intelligence to improve accident prevention and post-crash safety measures.
A holistic approach to safety: four pillars
Renault Group's road safety strategy centres on four key areas: preventing, correcting, protecting and rescuing. It leverages technologies that intervene before, during and after crashes to improve safety continuously. An unmatched accidentology database and collaborations with the scientific community, rescue services and public authorities support the strategy.
Renault's ongoing safety initiatives include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), post-crash safety equipment and connected services like Safety Score and Safety Coach. By design, these innovations reduce accidents and make mobility safer for all road users.
Key safety achievements at Renault Group
Renault's road safety milestones reflect its long-standing commitment to protecting drivers, passengers and emergency responders:
- More than 50 years of optimising safety on board its vehicles.
- 600 engineers and technicians dedicated to safety.
- More than 2,000 safety-related patents have been filed since 1970.
- Three state-of-the-art safety research centres in France.
- 15-year partnership with fire services.
- More than 5,000 firefighters trained in 19 countries across Europe, North Africa and Latin America.
- Fireman Access is now standard on all Renault Group EVs and plug-in hybrids.
- QRescue, Renault's emergency response system, is now fitted on every Renault model.
The Renault Group's decision to freely license its Fireman Access system is a significant step toward enhancing EV safety industry-wide. By sharing this life-saving innovation and fostering collaboration, Renault aims to accelerate the adoption of safer, more sustainable mobility solutions worldwide.
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