Automakers have plenty of ideas for dealing with an EV battery that gets dangerously hot. Stellantis’ idea seems to explore a solution that involves separating the battery from the vehicle entirely.
The idea sounds like something designed for an action movie, especially since one version involves explosives. Once activated, parts holding the battery in place could literally break apart.
Getting rid of the high-voltage pack creates an obvious problem, though. An EV without its main battery isn’t normally going anywhere. Luckily, Stellantis has thought about that part too.
A patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) describes how the car could drop its battery and then drive away under its own power.
The Battery Drops Onto The Ground
Titled “High-Voltage Battery Quick Release System For Vehicle,” the patent application was published on September 17, 2026, and lists FCA US LLC as the applicant. The system is intended for situations where a high-voltage battery overheats, suffers damage, or experiences another thermal event.
A quick-release switch would tell a controller to electrically disconnect the battery before mechanically separating it from the vehicle. The patent describes switches inside the cabin and trunk, potentially allowing an occupant or first responder to activate the system.
Stellantis proposes several ways of physically releasing the pack. One uses sliding frame sections, while another employs pyrotechnic fasteners containing charges that break apart when activated.
The EV Could Still Drive Away
Dropping the high-voltage battery is only half the trick. Stellantis also wants the vehicle to put some distance between itself and the potentially dangerous pack.
After releasing the main battery, a controller would switch the vehicle’s power source to its low-voltage battery. The patent specifically describes using that battery to power an electric motor and propel the vehicle a predetermined distance away from the discarded pack.
Exactly how far it could travel isn’t stated. The goal isn’t to limp home without the traction battery but to create separation between the vehicle and a pack experiencing a thermal event.
Interestingly, the drawings acknowledge an awkward possibility: the rear wheels might need to roll partly over the released battery if the pack is wider than the rear track.
Don’t Expect It On A Jeep Just Yet
The patent says the system could be used on several types of electrified vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, commercial vehicles, and even racing machines.
That doesn’t mean Stellantis is preparing to install exploding battery mounts on production EVs. Automakers routinely patent ideas that never reach dealerships, and the filing doesn’t identify a future Jeep, Dodge, Ram, or other Stellantis model destined to use the technology.
Still, it’s a fascinating approach to EV battery safety. Whereas most solutions focus on containing or managing a troubled pack, Stellantis is wondering whether the smartest move might just be to leave it behind.