The mining industry is shifting toward battery-powered equipment to improve efficiency, but there is risk associated with lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density. They can fail, overheat and, in some cases, catch on fire, releasing toxic emissions. By combining three modeling approaches to build virtual mining systems, Penn State researchers now more comprehensively understand how to predict and mitigate lithium-ion battery fires in mines before they spread, endangering miners and halting operations.