Renault Group is making its exclusive fire safety system for electric vehicles available across the global automotive industry to improve road safety.

Fireman Access is now available with a free licence for car manufacturers and parts suppliers

Developed as part of a unique partnership with the fire services, Fireman Access is now available with a free licence for car manufacturers and parts suppliers. In return, licensees agree that any upgrades will be made available to other members of the community.

Fitted on all new electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles sold by Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize worldwide, the patented device allows fire and rescue services to extinguish a battery fire in an electric vehicle in just a few minutes, compared to several hours without this equipment.

The device takes the form of an adhesive disc placed over an opening in the casing of the vehicle’s traction battery, effectively sealing it for normal use. If the vehicle catches fire and the flames spread to the battery, the jet from the fire hose dislodges the disc and drenches the cells in water, extinguishing a fire in a matter of minutes.

While the likelihood of an EV catching fire is significantly less than that of a petrol or diesel car, extinguishing an EV battery fire takes much longer than for an ICE vehicle and is more problematic.

Renault’s open licence for Fireman Access aligns with its commitment made alongside the United Nations to make mobility safer, all over the world.

Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group, said: “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. Fireman Access is a practical demonstration of what can be achieved by combining our expertise as a manufacturer with the skills of the men and women who keep us safe every day.

“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.”