General Motors Patents an Exhaust System for Electric Vehicles

General Motors has patented an emergency exhaust system for electric vehicles that would expel combustible gases out of a vehicle to prevent thermal runaway, according to The Drive.

While EVs don’t typically have exhaust systems, this one would serve to vent out heat generated by the battery during its operation. If a battery generates more heat than its cooling system can disperse, this can create flammable gases and prompt thermal runaway.

This exhaust system would be made up of valves and/or caps that will expel hot, combustible gases, sending them through baffles and away from adjacent cells. These gases go into a central
exhaust chamber before being released into the atmosphere.

A similar concept has been pursued by Stellantis, though its EV exhaust system included a scrubber—similar to a catalytic converter—to help remove harmful components of gases being released.