The concept of a tool for identifying key parameters of electric vehicle batteries in terms of fire safety

The rapid development of electromobility has brought significant attention to the safety of lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the context of fire hazards. While statistical data show that electric vehicles (EVs) are not more fire-prone than internal combustion engine vehicles, the consequences and suppression of battery-related fires are more complex due to the phenomenon of thermal runaway. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting the fire safety of EV battery systems. A review of scientific literature and international safety standards — including the UNECE Regulation No. 100 (Rev. 3) — was conducted to identify the most relevant parameters influencing battery fire risk, such as cathode chemistry, state of charge, cell packing density, cooling efficiency, and presence of thermal protection mechanisms. In the practical part, a conceptual decision-support tool based on the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method is proposed. This multi-criteria analysis approach enables systematic evaluation and ranking of different battery configurations according to fire safety performance. The mathematical model presented allows for the integration of technical data and expert-defined weights to support informed engineering and regulatory decisions. The results demonstrate that structured decision-making models can significantly contribute to the proactive assessment of EV battery safety and support future developments in safer energy storage systems.