US firm United Safety & Survivability Corporation has announced it has launched a lithium-ion battery failure detection sensor.

The sensor addresses the issue of thermal runaway, which once has started cannot be controlled due to extreme heat.

 In the early stages of failure, the battery cell begins to generate a variety of gases that build up and increase the pressure inside the cell until the pressure relief activates venting.

Joseph Mirabile, CEO of United Safety said: “When a fire starts within an electric vehicle, all we can hope for is to give occupants the greatest window of time to evacuate. 

"It is truly unique to be able to offer a product that stops a fire – let alone a thermal runaway event before it even happens. Couple this with our Fogmaker Fire Suppression System and I believe this is the best detection and suppression package available on the market today for electric vehicles."