Why does the industry need battery safety management system (BSMS)?

Abstract

Enhancing battery safety is a matter of efficient risk management, which involves identifying key risk factors, monitoring them, and developing strategies to control and mitigate their impact. Among these risks, thermal runaway caused by various abuse types (e.g., electrical, mechanical and thermal), eventually leading to fire and explosion, are the most significant and can potentially cause catastrophic implications. Recently, there has been an increase in the frequency and severity of battery-related accidents. To build public trust in large-scale battery-based systems, including electric vehicles, the industry must demonstrate that they have developed robust systems that identify and manage safety similar to the hydrocarbon and chemical industries. The industry uses battery management systems (BMS) to maintain battery operation and safety. In the authors’ view, these BMS have limited capability to maintain battery safety. The BMS is designed to provide longer, stable battery life and efficient operation. It can help in some safety aspects, such as thermal management; however, it cannot be considered a safety mechanism. It is like the foot pedal brake of a car, which is an operational feature since it is designed to allow the driver to drive the vehicle. This paper provides the authors’ perspective on why we need a dedicated battery safety management system (BSMS) in addition to BMS to manage the safety of battery systems.