Renault Group Advances Global Road Safety with Free Access to Fireman Access Patents
Renault Group has made the Fireman Access patents freely available to the automotive industry worldwide. Car manufacturers and parts suppliers can now acquire a free licence for this innovation via the open, collaborative platform at www.renault/universalpatent.com. In line with this collaborative ethos, licensees are required to share any improvements with the community.
"Driving innovations to enhance road safety is at the heart of our ethos at Renault. We are especially proud of our recent partnership with fire services. The Fireman Access initiative is a prime example of what can be achieved when combining our manufacturing expertise with the invaluable skills of those dedicated to our daily safety. I am thrilled to offer this innovation at no cost, as when it comes to safety, it is crucial to eliminate all barriers. This action also supports our commitment to the United Nations to globalise safety in mobility," commented Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group.
Fireman Access, the result of a collaborative effort between Renault Group and the fire services, is an innovative solution that enables emergency teams to extinguish fires in electric vehicles as quickly as in traditional combustion engine vehicles. From a technical standpoint, an adhesive disc is placed over a portal in the casing of the vehicle's battery, which seals it during regular use. If a fire affects the battery, the intense stream from a fire hose removes the disc and saturates the cells with water, the only rapid and effective method to halt thermal runaway. Thus, Fireman Access allows a battery fire to be put out in just a few minutes, compared with several hours and tenfold more water without this innovation, enabling firefighters to return to readiness much faster. This system, which is now installed in all-electric and hybrid vehicles sold by Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize globally, is protected by seven patents.
This initiative represents the first practical implementation of Renault Group's commitment to collaborate with Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, to promote road safety worldwide and deploy technological solutions to save lives.
In line with this pledge, Renault Group is currently participating in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, running until 20 February. The event serves as a spotlight on the company’s historic commitment to road safety. On a national scale, it allows Renault Group Morocco to forge closer connections between the expertise of the vehicle manufacturer and the capabilities of the country's relevant services. It also enables the subsidiary to highlight its Foundation's numerous initiatives to promote road safety awareness in schools across Morocco.
Renault's road safety strategy adopts a holistic 360-degree approach, focusing on four key pillars: prevention, correction, protection, and rescue. This continuous improvement journey, which started over 50 years ago, is underpinned by an unrivalled global accidentology database, the expertise of dedicated teams, and extensive collaboration with rescue services, the academic and scientific community, partner manufacturers, and public authorities. These partnerships harness technology that puts people first and makes mobility safer and more accessible for everyone.
Renault's Human First programme encapsulates the Group's dedication to road safety. Renault's approach goes beyond designing reliable vehicles. By developing advanced accident prevention systems, driving assistance technologies, passive and post-crash safety equipment, and accelerating the advancement of onboard technologies such as safety score, safety coach, and connected services, Renault is improving safety for all road users. Launched in 2023, this programme brings together engineers, safety experts, product managers, the LAB, rescue services, and fire services, employing state-of-the-art technologies like AI to reduce accidents substantially.
