IoT-Based Fire Detection and Automatic Extinguishing System for EV Battery Safety

Abstract

In recent years, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional fuel-based vehicles. However, one of the major safety concerns associated with EVs is the risk of fire caused by battery overheating, short circuits, or overcurrent conditions. This paper presents an IoT-based Fire Detection and Automatic Extinguishing System designed to enhance battery safety in electric vehicles. The proposed system continuously monitors critical parameters such as battery temperature, smoke concentration, and current flow using dedicated sensors. A Node MCU (ESP8266) microcontroller processes the collected data and transmits real-time information to an IoT platform for continuous remote monitoring. When abnormal conditions are detected, the system automatically activates a solenoid valve to spray fire-extinguishing fluid and triggers a circuit breaker to isolate the power supply, thereby preventing further damage. Simultaneously, the user receives an instant alert through the IoT dashboard or mobile application. The developed system provides an intelligent, cost-effective, and reliable solution for early fire detection and prevention in EVs. Experimental results validate the system’s efficiency in minimizing fire hazards and improving the overall safety and reliability of electric vehicle operations.

Introduction

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional vehicles due to their zero emissions, low noise, and high energy efficiency. However, lithium-ion batteries used in EVs pose serious fire hazards caused by overheating, short circuits, overcharging, or mechanical damage. Conventional Battery Management Systems (BMS) mainly control charging and discharging but lack fire detection and suppression capabilities.

To address this issue, the paper proposes an IoT-enabled Fire Detection and Automatic Extinguishing System for EV batteries. The system employs temperature, smoke, and current sensors connected to a NodeMCU (ESP8266) microcontroller, which monitors real-time battery conditions and uploads data to an IoT cloud platform (Blynk or ThingSpeak). If abnormal readings are detected, the system automatically triggers a solenoid valve to release a fire-extinguishing agent and activates a circuit breaker to disconnect the power supply. Simultaneously, users receive instant alerts on their mobile or web dashboards.

Different fire suppression agents such as water mist, CO?, dry powder, and gel-based agents are evaluated for their effectiveness on lithium-ion battery fires. Experimental results show that these agents help contain and cool fires efficiently, depending on the situation.

The methodology involves continuous data monitoring, processing, decision-making, automatic extinguishing, IoT-based communication, and recovery once conditions stabilize. The system ensures early detection, active fire suppression, and enhanced EV battery safety at low cost and compact design.

The literature review highlights several studies that validate the use of IoT, sensors, and solenoid-based extinguishing systems for fire control in EVs and other applications.

The proposed system integrates all these concepts to create a smart, real-time safety solution capable of automatic detection and response to battery fires.

In the future, integrating AI-based predictive safety systems could help anticipate fire risks before they occur, and advanced extinguishing techniques like multi-agent suppression systems could further enhance EV safety and reliability.

Conclusion

The proposed IoT-based Fire Detection and Automatic Extinguishing System ensures better safety for electric vehicles by monitoring temperature, smoke, and current in real time. When abnormal conditions occur, it automatically activates the fire extinguisher and cuts off power using a circuit breaker. The system sends alerts to users through the IoT platform, providing quick response and preventing damage. It is low-cost, reliable, and easy to integrate with EVs, making it a smart solution for improving battery safety and vehicle performance

References

[1] N. Kumar , R. Singh, and A. Patel, “IoT-Based Fire Detection and Alert System Using Temperature and Smoke Sensors,” International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (IJIRSET), vol. 11, no. 3, 2022. https://www.ijirset.com/upload/2023/siasem-23/20_SF-2.pdf?utm_source [2] Milan Sonnad, Mohammed Saqhib, Mohammed Hussain Khan, Himanshu Jha, and P. Sudhakar “Design of Automatic Fire Extinguisher System for Electric Vehicles,” ISPES - International Conference on Intelligent and Sustainable Power and Energy Systems 2023. [3] Jenil Dosani, Nikunj Makwana, Archana Chaugule, ”NodeMCU based Fire Detector System”, HBRP Publication, Recent Trends in Cloud Computing and Web Engineering Volume 2 Issue 3, 2020. [4] S. Sarkar, “Smart Fire Detection System Using IoT,” Disaster & Development, Vol. 12, Issue 02, pp. 91–110, July–December 2023. Available: https://nidm.gov.in/PDF/journals/NIDMJOURNAL_JulDec2023f.pdf [5] Pagire, R.R., Sanap, P., Sanap, A., & Yewale, P. (2021). Auto fire extinguishing system using IoT. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 8(2), 985–989.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Prof. Shital Narayan Gavade, Mr. Darshan Shitalkumar Chougule, Ms. Pooja Sachin Neje, Mr. Satej Sanjay Gaikwad, Ms. Dhanashri Abhinandan Hatgine. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.