Porsche Develops External Display Panel To Give First Responders Of Battery Fires Crucial Information

Feb. 19, 2023 8:39 AM ET by Martin Pretorius Patents and Trademarks / Comments

Porsche understands that future vehicles will need different rescue protocols than old ones, so it devised a new way to assist rescuers.

Because electric vehicles are usually very different from traditional cars, Porsche has given much consideration to make it easier and safer for first responders to deal with EV emergencies and developed a new external screen that could immediately alert emergency responders to the state of the battery pack and the potential for a battery-related fire. The chances are that such an information system could appear on the upcoming Porsche Macan EV but will filter through to other electric models like the Taycan.

According to a patent found by CarBuzz at the German Patent And Trademark Office (DPMA), Porsche's new invention will inform emergency personnel about various aspects of the vehicle and even show them where rescue shears and spreaders can be applied most effectively without cutting into high voltage cables, batteries, and other components.

CarBuzz

The engineers considered all possibilities, and allowed for multiple electronic displays both inside and outside the vehicle to be readable as two-dimensional images, such as QR or Aztec codes. These are widespread formats and are compatible with all smartphones, reducing the need for a language-based display and relaying a lot of information in a small image.

The compact display area is particularly important, as is the visibility of this information from the outside of the vehicle. While this display unit can be placed close to one of the car's windows, the possibility exists that the visibility of the display could be obscured from the outside if the window cracks or shatters. To this end, Porsche mentions the option of placing a display (or multiple displays) inside as well as outside the vehicle, but mounting it on the vehicle's exterior is likely the simpler solution.

DPMA

As for the display unit itself, it won't be a large, high-res screen or a hologram. Instead, the patent proposes using LCDs, TFTs, or plasma displays, but electrophoretic (paper white) displays will likely be preferred because they can continue to display information even without a power supply. Keeping the display small will also minimize the risk of damage during a collision.

Porsche proposes a multi-stage display system, with the primary display simply indicating whether the electric motor is operational or not. This is necessary in the event of a driver's medical emergency, and will warn rescuers if there's any risk of the vehicle accelerating unintentionally or its circuitry being live.

CarBuzz

Second-tier information will be included in the displayed QR code, such as a link to the particular vehicle's safety information, information regarding the optimal points to apply rescue shears and spreaders, the types of glass used in the vehicle, diagrams of the high-voltage cable routing inside the vehicle, airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment status, and any warnings regarding battery status.

With this information at hand, rescue operations will become safer and more effective, and the system could even be linked to the vehicle occupants' biometric data to give medical crews advanced warning and help them prepare better when extracting occupants from the wreckage. This technology is currently aimed at EVs applications but could also be applied to conventional cars, bringing safer emergency assistance to a wider audience.