#China #Shanghai #Energy Storage #fire safety #Envision Energy

Envision Energy's Record-Breaking 49-Hour Fire Test

Envision Energy, a global leader in eco-friendly technologies, recently achieved a remarkable feat by successfully executing a large-scale fire test of its intelligent energy storage system. This test not only raises the bar for safety but also sets new environmental and resilience standards for energy storage solutions. The test was conducted under the rigorous oversight of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) and involved strategic partners, including North American Fire Protection Engineers (FPEs). The test adhered strictly to the CSA C800 standard, which represents a consensus developed by insurers, regulatory bodies, and industry experts, marking it as one of the defining safety benchmarks for energy storage systems worldwide.

The Test Setup

During the test, four fully charged (100% State of Charge) 5MWh Envision Smart Energy Storage containers (labeled A, B, C, and D) were placed in an extremely compact configuration, with only 5 centimeters separating them. This contrasts sharply with the industry-standard spacing of 3 to 5 meters. The setup represented the most energy-dense fire test ever conducted and posed significant challenges due to enhanced thermal coupling and restricted airflow. Notably, the fire was allowed to burn without intervention, reaching the limits of even the most stringent safety regulations.

Container A burned for a staggering 49 hours and 32 minutes, peaking at a temperature of 1,297 °C. In comparison, the internal temperatures of the adjacent containers B, C, and D remained remarkably stable at just 35 °C, 44 °C, and 43 °C, respectively – well within safe operational limits. Impressively, Container A maintained its structural integrity throughout the fire without any deformation or leakage, while neighboring containers showed no signs of damage, confirming their operational readiness.

Simulating Extreme Conditions

To simulate a worst-case ignition scenario, the fire was triggered using synchronized high-power heating applied to four battery cells in a modified battery pack, where the thermal insulation had been removed at a nano-level. The ignition source was strategically positioned in the middle of the container cluster, where the risk of fire spreading was highest. Under these extreme conditions, ignition took nearly three hours—over 50% longer than standard expectations—providing critical time for early detection and emergency response.

Zero Emission Testing

Environmental safety was a primary focus during the test. All combustion gases from the burning Container A were captured using overhead smoke hoods and analyzed for composition, followed by complete neutralization through additional treatment. No odors, emissions, or environmental pollution were generated throughout the 49-hour duration, setting a new industry standard for clean and environmentally friendly fire testing in energy storage systems.

AI-Powered Safety

Envision’s intelligent energy storage system employs AI-driven technology to ensure the highest levels of safety, even under extreme conditions. The system integrates proprietary high-security battery cells within a robust three-layer safety architecture, covering cell, pack, and system levels. This architecture, coupled with AI-powered fire detection and active fire suppression at the pack level, effectively isolates thermal events within individual containers. To date, Envision's storage systems have been deployed in over 300 projects globally without recorded safety incidents.

Conclusion

This groundbreaking fire test demonstrates that Envision's Smart Energy Storage can fully mitigate risks—even in improbable fire scenarios—within a single container. The quantifiable safety results provide greater confidence to insurers in underwriting storage facilities, paving the way for broader commercial adoption and accelerating the transition to large-scale safe energy storage solutions.