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One of the solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector is the electrification of mobility. The technology currently most widely used by car manufacturers is the Li-ion battery (LiB). Unfortunately, Li-ion batteries can suffer dramatic events with catastrophic consequences known as thermal runaway (TR). TR has many possible causes: excessive temperature, mechanical deformation, electrical overcharge, internal short circuit. Typically, TR causes violent combustion that is difficult or impossible to control, with the emission of potentially toxic gases and particles. TR is a major problem for manufacturers and can have serious consequences for users. Understanding TR is a key safety issue. This paper presents a new methodology to characterize the thermal runaway of Li-ion battery cells, combining gas analysis, thermodynamic measurements and high-speed imaging.

The electrification of mobility is a major inflection point for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants from the transportation sector. In this context, the Li-ion battery is currently the technology shared by automakers to provide the energy storage needed to deploy electrified vehicles. However, Li-ion batteries can undergo incidents with dramatic consequences, referred to as thermal runaway (TR). This can result from abnormal conditions: excessive temperature, mechanical deformation, electrical overcharge, internal short circuit. TR is characterized by a violent reaction, that is, difficult to control and can release hazardous gases. This issue is today a crucial safety concern that strongly impacts the design and the battery management strategies. The objective of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the phenomena by focusing on the variability of the battery cell (BC) TR induced by thermal initiation.