EV batteries with built-In fire suppression patent filed by GM

General Motors (GM) has filed a patent application for a new battery design with a built-in passive fire suppression system.

The new GM patent application has been assigned patent application number US 2023/0395849 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on December 7, 2023, GM Authority reports.

“The patent application describes a battery design that incorporates a battery housing, as well as a battery cell stack that is placed within the housing,” it says.

“The housing includes a fire suppression material, while the battery cell stack includes plurality of battery cells with a non-aqueous electrolyte.

“The patent states that when the fire suppression material in the housing is exposed to the non-aqueous electrolyte, the fire suppression material is then configured to retain the non-aqueous electrolyte within the interior of the battery housing.

“This design is configured to either prevent or inhibit thermal runaway propagation between adjacent battery cells in a battery cell stack that is placed within the battery housing.”

GM Authority says battery fires are of increasing concern as the broader automotive industry makes the transition.

The GM Factory Zero plant had a fire in December 2023 that allegedly started after a forklift punctured a pallet of EV batteries.

EVs and Beyond earlier reported GM EV sales had risen.