Hyundai Glovis introduces EV-Drill Lance on car carrier ships

A sailor participates in a simulated fire drill using the EV-Drill Lance aboard Glovis Sirius, a car carrier ship operated by Hyundai Glovis. Courtesy of Hyundai Glovis.

Hyundai Glovis said Thursday that it has equipped its car carrier ships with the EV-Drill Lance, a specialized fire suppression device designed for electric vehicle (EV) fires. The device can quickly extinguish unexpected fires during the maritime transportation of vehicles, including EVs.

The EV-Drill Lance is engineered to put out fires by drilling a hole at the bottom of an electric vehicle (EV) to access the battery pack, allowing water to be sprayed directly onto the flames.

Water supplied through a hose from a fire hydrant powers a turbine under high pressure, which activates the drill.

This drill can create a hole through the underside of the vehicle and into the battery pack within two minutes. Water is then directly sprayed into the battery pack, extinguishing the fire within 30 minutes.

Thanks to these features, the EV-Drill Lance is increasingly being deployed in the field. In September, Hyundai Motor Group donated 250 units of the EV-Drill Lance to the National Fire Agency.

The logistics affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group has further modified the EV-Drill Lance to make it more suitable for maritime transportation environments.

The long handle of the device was divided into shorter segments, allowing for length adjustments depending on the situation. This modification enables the equipment to be deployed even in the narrow spaces between vehicles that are tightly parked on ships.

Additionally, LED lights were added to help identify the location of the equipment in situations where visibility is compromised, such as during battery fires that produce large amounts of smoke. Custom-made mobile bags were also developed to allow sailors to carry the equipment quickly to the fire site.

The EV-Drill Lance is expected to significantly reduce the time it takes to put out fires, preventing other nearby vehicles from being damaged.

Hyundai Glovis aims to complete the deployment of the EV-Drill Lance on its own car carrier ships before gradually expanding its use to chartered vessels. As of the first half of this year, the company operates a fleet of approximately 90 car carrier ships, including 32 that it owns.