Decoding thermal runaway in EV batteries

The shift to electric vehicles (including hybrids) and growing demand for batteries has brought the focus on thermal runaway and thermal propagation in EV batteries and has prompted automakers, suppliers and researchers to explore various thermal runaway mitigation techniques.

In November 2023, Stellantis recalled more than 32,000 of its hybrid Jeep Wrangler SUVs (2021–2024 models of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe sport utility vehicles) because they posed potential fire risk. As per the company, eight of the hybrid Wranglers caught fire while turned off and parked. Six of them were being charged when the fire began. Similarly, General Motors recalled Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV (all model year till date as of August 2021) due to the possibility of a faulty battery pack catching fire.