3 6 Ke·2025-10-30 02:45Core Insights - Recent electric vehicle fire incidents have reignited concerns over battery safety, particularly among high-end models like Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, NIO ET7, Li Auto MEGA, Mercedes EQE, and Porsche Taycan, which are priced between 300,000 to 1,000,000 yuan [1] - The evolution of battery technology has focused on increasing energy density and fast charging capabilities, allowing electric vehicles to match or exceed the performance of traditional fuel vehicles in terms of range [1] - Despite advancements in performance, safety has often been treated as a passive requirement, only highlighted by incidents of battery fires [1] Battery Technology Evolution - The first major evolution in power batteries involved a shift from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) to ternary lithium batteries, which offer higher energy density but lower thermal stability [2] - Ternary lithium batteries typically use nickel, cobalt, and manganese or aluminum, with higher nickel content leading to increased energy density but reduced thermal stability [2][3] - High-nickel batteries (NCM 811) faced significant safety issues, leading to a shift towards more balanced compositions in the industry [3] Structural Design and Safety Risks - Recent advancements in battery design have focused on increasing energy density by optimizing structural design, such as integrating more active materials into the same volume [4][6] - The transition from modular to cell-to-pack (CTP) and cell-to-chassis (CTC) designs has allowed for more energy storage but also increased the risk of thermal runaway during incidents [4][6] Fast Charging Challenges - The rise of high-voltage fast charging technology has introduced new safety challenges, with increased power leading to higher demands on insulation and protection systems [7][9] - While fast charging improves user experience, it can also shorten battery lifespan and increase the risk of thermal runaway due to rapid lithium ion movement [9][10] Ongoing Safety Improvements - The industry is exploring solid-state batteries as a potential solution for combining high performance with safety, but significant challenges remain before widespread adoption [11] - Battery manufacturers are continuously optimizing liquid battery designs to enhance safety, such as improving cooling systems and battery management systems (BMS) [11][12] - Despite rigorous testing, the transition from laboratory conditions to real-world applications presents numerous variables that can affect battery safety [13][14] Industry Response to Incidents - Each fire incident serves as a critical warning for the industry, providing valuable data for technological improvements [14][15] - Leading battery manufacturers are striving to reduce failure rates to parts per billion (ppb) levels, although the perceived risk remains significant for individual users [16][17]