LastCall

What it does

Current fire detection systems are too slow for electric vehicles, which burn hotter and longer. LastCall uses smart sensors to pinpoint fires, simulates spread in real time, and wirelessly evacuates nearby vehicles—preventing fire spread and reducing damage.

Your inspiration

As EV adoption grows, 60% of UK fleet vehicles will be electric by 2030. However, current fire safety systems can't keep up. EV fires spread rapidly, reignite, and overwhelm traditional alarms and sprinklers. A fire in Liverpool Kings Dock Car Park caused £50M in damages. In some countries, EVs are even banned from underground car parks due to risk. These challenges threaten the EV transition. EV fires are also harder to detect early and extinguish. As engineers and designers, we set out to rethink how infrastructure and vehicles interact—creating a system that prevents fire spread and supports a safer, more sustainable future.

How it works

LastCall consists of compact, modular devices installed at the center of each parking bay. These devices sensors are calibrated to detect the earliest signs of battery failure within a few seconds of failure—well before visible flames appear and minutes before fire spreads. When abnormal signs are detected, the device transmits data via low-latency radio to a central edge server that has a digital twin of the carpark. Then, a predictive and lightweight model would simulate how the fire is likely to spread based on real-time environmental conditions and vehicle positionings. Vehicles in the projected danger zone would then be identified and evacuated autonomously using our over-the-air commands through vehicle-to-infrastructure communication protocols—even for vehicles with only basic park assist. The entire process—from detection to evacuation—takes place rapidly, reducing the risk of fire spread and allowing firefighters to focus on saving lives.

Design process

We began by investigating how EV fires are currently handled in car parks, interviewing the Head of Fire Services at Luton Airport, London car park operators, and transport authorities. We found no standardised method for early EV fire detection or containment. To understand technical limitations, we consulted fire researchers at Imperial College London and the UK Fire Research Institute, who confirmed that current solutions—like sprinklers and alarms—are reactive, costly, and ineffective against battery-related risks like thermal runaway. Initial ideas included deployable fire blankets and foam grids, but these raised issues around cost, maintenance, and retrofitting. After 50+ interviews with fleet operators, insurers, OEMs, and EV safety experts, we identified a need for a modular, scalable solution that integrates into existing infrastructure. We realised that detection alone isn't enough—preventing spread is key. We went through 12+ prototype iterations, testing materials, forms, and structures to ensure sensors were weatherproof, tamper-proof, non-slip, and could bear the weight of trucks. The design had to be robust yet simple to install and maintain. These insights led to LastCall: a proactive system combining detection, prediction, and autonomous response.

How it is different

LastCall is the first system to combine detection, real-time fire propagation modeling, and vehicle evacuation into one modular platform. Unlike traditional smoke detectors, which are slow in these conditions and poor spatial resolution, our sensors detect EV battery fire within 3 seconds—well before flames. Competitors like Safer Alarms™ react too slowly or are cost-prohibitive at scale. Fire suppression tools—blankets, hoses—are reactive, require manual operation, and fail to prevent spread. They also expose firefighters to hazardous smoke and reignition risks. Crucially, no existing solution addresses vehicle relocation. While OEMs offer Park Assist and self-parking, they’re not emergency-enabled. LastCall bridges this gap using over-the-air commands to direct vehicles away from the threat. Our lightweight fire-spread simulation engine, built on a digital twin of the car park, is the first of its kind tailored to EV fire dynamics.

Future plans

Our next steps include refining our detection algorithm and V2X communication protocol through partnerships with EV manufacturers, car park operators, and fleet managers. We are preparing for a live pilot to test real-time detection, fire spread modeling, and coordinated autonomous evacuation. However, to do this, we want to obtain fire certification of our detection system. Long term, we aim to integrate LastCall into smart city infrastructure and influence new safety standards in EV-ready car park design, fleet fire response, and urban mobility planning—safeguarding people, vehicles, and property as electric adoption grows globally.

Awards

Shortlisted for the D&AD New Blood Awards (Impact Category)