A system for discharging the electric charge stored in a traction battery of an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle. The system comprising a traction battery having a plurality cells, a battery management system for balancing or regulating the electric charge stored in each of the battery cells. A sensor for detecting a vehicle event is provided on the vehicle. The battery management system, upon receiving a signal indicative that a vehicle event has occurred, initiates a discharge cycle of the electrical energy stored in one or more of the cells of the battery via an energy dissipation device such as a battery regulator or battery balancer.