BATTERY CELL THERMAL FAILURE MITIGATION

A rechargeable energy storage system includes battery cell(s) and a battery management system (BMS) for detecting cell damage prior to the cell(s) entering an irreversible thermal runaway. The BMS includes gas sensor array(s) for detecting gas(es) vented by the cell(s). Each sensor detects a trace amount of one vented gas indicative of cell damage insufficient to trigger an irreversible thermal runaway. The BMS also includes a controller receiving from the sensor array(s) data indicative of the detected gas trace amounts. The controller compares the detected trace amount with a threshold margin relative to an amount indicative of cell damage that triggers irreversible thermal runaway. The controller additionally identifies damaged cell(s) when the detected trace amount is within the threshold margin. The controller further commands a corrective action to mitigate further damage to the damaged cell(s) and reduce a likelihood of the subject cell(s) entering the irreversible thermal runaway.