TK-언더쉴드

Electric vehicle battery fires are very difficult to extinguish once they occur, leading to major accidents. Currently, the BMS monitors temperature increases but does not catch all internal anomalies, and there are delays before firefighters can extinguish the fire after it occurs. In particular, fires during parking are often recognized late, increasing the risk of spreading to other vehicles. Existing vehicle fire extinguishers or alarm systems have difficulty responding to battery internal fires.

TK-UnderShield is installed under electric vehicles to constantly monitor the area near the battery pack. AI cross-analyzes various inputs such as thermal imaging, gas, and optical sensors to accurately determine early signs of fire, such as battery cell overheating and smoke generation. Compared to existing single-sensor methods, it minimizes false alarms, and once a risk is detected, a high-pressure spray nozzle automatically activates to spray a water mist under the battery. This lowers the temperature and blocks oxygen before the flames grow, fundamentally suppressing the fire. The sprinkler continuously sprays water to cool the heat and prevent re-ignition and the spread of combustion to adjacent areas. The entire system is linked to remote monitoring, instantly transmitting fire alarms to the cloud and allowing remote manual initiation if necessary. In addition, the small and modular design makes it easy to install on various electric vehicle models or charging facility floors, providing scalability for application to global infrastructure.

This is a B2B/B2G infrastructure product that electric vehicle charging facility operators (charging stations, parking towers, etc.) and public parking lot managers are likely to adopt first. In the future, a B2B2C route is also possible, where electric vehicle manufacturers adopt it as a new car option or install it as an aftermarket product during vehicle maintenance.

Electric vehicle fire safety is an area of great interest to governments and insurance companies in various countries, so it has the potential to be adopted as a global standard solution. It is designed to be easily deployed from developed to developing countries as long as there is a power infrastructure[84]. In terms of regulations, it must comply with fire protection standards, but since it is a new type, new safety regulations may be developed to reflect this technology.

It was considered innovative enough to be called a "game changer for electric vehicle fires." It has attracted attention as the most realistic alternative in a situation where battery fire solutions are lacking, and was also recognized as a leader in mobility safety at CES. Although vehicle manufacturers are highly interested, there is likely to be competition to develop similar technologies, so it remains to be seen who will dominate the market in the future. Currently, the market reaction is positive due to the clear technical completeness and necessity.