Collaborative endeavor initiated by AZL on Fire Safety Assessment for Electric Vehicle Battery Enclosures
AZL Aachen GmbH has launched a new Joint Partner Project titled "Thermal Runaway Testing for Battery Casings - Benchmarking Systems for High-Gradient Heating and Hot Particle Blasting." This collaborative research initiative aims to develop a realistic and reproducible fire testing environment for materials used in electric vehicle (EV) battery housing systems[1][2].
The project focuses on creating a new test bench that combines high-gradient flame exposure with controlled hot particle impact, simulating the complex conditions experienced during thermal runaway events in modern lithium-ion battery technologies such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)[1][2].
Companies interested in joining the project can request detailed project information or arrange an individual consultation meeting. Participants, including automotive and aerospace industries, can contribute material configurations for testing and access benchmarking results, supporting improved material development, qualification, and supplier evaluation[1][2].
This project enables systematic benchmarking of structural and functional materials for battery casings by evaluating their thermal resistance and mechanical integrity under these stress conditions. The testing replicates real-world fire scenarios with temperature gradients and particle blasts, providing detailed data on material performance, including survival under tensile load at various flame temperatures[1].
By offering advanced fire safety testing tailored to reflect actual thermal runaway conditions, this project contributes significantly to enhancing fire safety in EV battery housing systems. It helps identify materials that maintain mechanical integrity and resist fire damage during thermal runaway, thus improving the reliability and safety of battery storage systems in electric vehicles and potentially other sectors like aerospace[1][2].
AZL has more than ten years of experience managing collaborative industry projects. The new test bench setup enables systematic benchmarking of materials under stress conditions that reflect actual applications in automotive, as well as in other segments like aerospace. Detailed test documentation, including videos and thermal data, will be provided for each material tested[1].
Through tailored test profiles, the thermal resistance and mechanical integrity of different materials will be compared based on application-specific scenarios. AZL's team of experts has developed an application-relevant instrumented test method for testing materials at different flame temperatures and measuring material strength under fire load[1].
The "Thermal Runaway Testing for Battery Casings – Benchmarking Systems for High-Gradient Heating and Hot Particle Blasting" project officially kicks off on July 15, 2025[1]. By pooling resources, validating their own solutions, and gaining insight into leading alternatives in the market, participating companies can make significant strides in improving fire safety in EV battery housing systems.
[1] AZL Aachen GmbH. (2025). Thermal Runaway Testing for Battery Casings – Benchmarking Systems for High-Gradient Heating and Hot Particle Blasting. Retrieved from https://www.azl-aachen.de/projects/thermal-runaway-testing-for-battery-casings [2] AZL Aachen GmbH. (2025). Press Release: AZL Launches New Joint Partner Project for Enhancing Fire Safety in Electric Vehicle Battery Housing Systems. Retrieved from https://www.azl-aachen.de/news/press-releases/azl-launches-new-joint-partner-project-for-enhancing-fire-safety-in-electric-vehicle-battery-housing-systems
The "Thermal Runaway Testing for Battery Casings – Benchmarking Systems for High-Gradient Heating and Hot Particle Blasting" project, initiated by AZL Aachen GmbH, invites participants from various industries, such as automotive and aerospace, to contribute to the development of improved fire safety measures in battery systems[1]. This collaborative research aims to foster advancements in finance, transportation, and technology, as it pertains to the manufacturing and assessment of safer materials in electric vehicle battery housings[1].
The project's thorough testing and documentation processes will provide participants with valuable data to evaluate and refine material development, qualification, and supplier selection within the automotive and finance sectors, thereby supporting the broader transportation and technology industries as well[1].
