Fire and Explosion Safety of Battery-Electric Mining Vehicles: A Multi-Scale Review from Cell to Ventilation Network

Battery failure in underground mining vehicles can expose connected workings to heat and hazardous gases. This review synthesises research published primarily between 2010 and 2026 on battery thermal runaway, enclosure response, underground hazard transport and emergency response. It finds that propagation and gas release can continue without sustained external flames, while enclosure pressure and downstream exposure depend on release history, discharge conditions and ventilation. Methane and entrained coal dust may introduce additional explosion pathways under suitable mixing and ignition conditions. Intervention also depends on the failure stage, because electrical isolation cannot stop self-sustaining cell reactions. A key gap remains between pack and enclosure measurements and the changing conditions encountered by mine personnel. To address this gap, this review proposes a cross-scale assessment framework linking battery monitoring and thermal management with enclosure performance, ventilation response and personnel protection. The framework identifies the source inputs and validation checks required at each interface and relates hazard development to intervention timing, personnel movement and usable self-rescuer endurance to assess escape-route viability.