Stellantis Patent Would Drop Overheating EV Battery Packs, Let Cars Drive On

Stellantis subsidiary FCA US has patented a system that jettisons an overheating high-voltage EV battery pack rather than cooling it, according to a filing published September 17 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The "Vehicle High Voltage Battery Rapid Release System" lets a driver, passenger or rescue worker trigger a switch that cuts the pack's electrical connection and mechanically detaches it, using a sliding frame structure for fast separation. Multiple switches — levers, buttons, touchscreen controls or toggles in the cabin and trunk — are envisioned to allow activation from outside. After release, the vehicle runs on its 12-volt battery while a controller drives the motor to move the car a preset safe distance from the fire-risk pack. The design isolates the hazard without leaving the vehicle fully disabled, the patent states. The technology remains patent-stage only.