W. L. Gore & Associates introduced its GORE Battery Vents – MultiVent Series at The Battery Show North America 2026, taking place October 13–15 in Detroit. The company will showcase the technology (Booth 6205).
Designed for lithium-ion battery packs in electric vehicles (EVs), MultiVent combines pressure equalization, moisture protection, and thermal-runaway gas evacuation in a single component requiring only one opening in the battery pack wall. The design offers an alternative to using separate vents, evacuation valves, and moisture-control components.
MultiVent combines Gore’s microporous membrane technology with valve technology acquired from Vernay Laboratories in 2026.
The system uses two valves and a membrane to manage pressure changes during normal operation, limit moisture ingress, and release gases during thermal runaway before resealing.
During normal operation, MultiVent provides airflow of 1,200 L/h at 100 mbar, which Gore reports is up to six times higher than alternative venting options. The increased airflow can reduce the number of vents required in a battery pack.
In laboratory testing at 22° C and 50% relative humidity, moisture ingress measured less than 20 mg per day, according to Gore. The company reports this is less than one-tenth the moisture ingress of many commercially available dual vents.
For thermal-runaway evacuation, the larger valve opens at 50 mbar and provides a gas evacuation flow of 50 L/s at 180 mbar before resealing. Gore reports that MultiVent maintains performance following standard automotive aging tests and can withstand typical thermal-runaway temperature exposure.
Integrating these functions into one component can reduce sealing points, simplify battery pack assembly, and limit potential paths for moisture intrusion. Gore also uses simulation models to help engineers evaluate moisture performance during battery pack development.
MultiVent is a finalist for Battery Pack Innovation of the Year at the 2026 Battery Awards. Gore will also present “Beyond Thermal Runaway: Advanced Materials and Venting Strategies for Safer, Higher-Energy Battery Systems,” featuring Steve Aubuchon, PhD, head of market development for batteries, on October 15 from 11 to 11:45 a.m. EDT at the Battery Tech Theater.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News