What term describes an uncontrollable self-heating of an EV battery that starts internally and cannot be safely dissipated by the surroundings?

What term describes an uncontrollable self-heating of an EV battery that starts internally and cannot be safely dissipated by the surroundings?

• A. Thermal runaway
• B. Overheating condition
• C. Thermal inertia
• D. Safe cooling failure

Answer: (A)

Thermal runaway is the idea that a battery’s internal heat generation drives the temperature higher, creating a self‑reinforcing cycle. Once this starts, the heat produced inside the cells can’t be removed quickly enough by the surroundings, so the temperature rises rapidly and can lead to venting, ignition, or a fire. This makes it a dangerous, uncontrollable condition that safety systems work to prevent. An overheating condition is a more general high-temperature situation that can often be managed or mitigated. Thermal inertia is about a system’s resistance to temperature change due to its heat capacity, not the self‑accelerating heat production. Safe cooling failure isn’t a standard term for this phenomenon.

Thermal runaway is the idea that a battery’s internal heat generation drives the temperature higher, creating a self‑reinforcing cycle. Once this starts, the heat produced inside the cells can’t be removed quickly enough by the surroundings, so the temperature rises rapidly and can lead to venting, ignition, or a fire. This makes it a dangerous, uncontrollable condition that safety systems work to prevent.

An overheating condition is a more general high-temperature situation that can often be managed or mitigated. Thermal inertia is about a system’s resistance to temperature change due to its heat capacity, not the self‑accelerating heat production. Safe cooling failure isn’t a standard term for this phenomenon.