Stricter standards for battery tests reduce fire risk

VDE calls for more security for electric vehicles Stricter standards for battery tests reduce fire risk Electric bikes so far, without adequate security checks Frankfurt (ots) - Electric cars can be safer if the testing and approval criteria will be tightened considerably. In particular, the risk of fire in a serious accident is not covered by the currently available tests adequately studied. This was underlined by Wilfried Jäger, Chairman of the Board of the VDE Institute, to the opening of a new battery and environmental test center in Offenbach. Hunter called for new or expanded safety standards not only for cars but for bikes with an electric auxiliary propulsion. Modern lithium-ion batteries have a very high energy density and therefore must be operated in a certain temperature range. Failed to cool in a battery, for example by a short circuit to an accident, threatening the entire overheated battery, in the worst case a fire. The current standards are far from those cases not sufficient. Especially critical is the deviation of actual accidents from those currently prescribed tests. So usually only Quetschtests be carried out where the battery is being slowly squeezed together with a defined force to half. In a real
accident, for example, in the rear-end collision of a heavy truck on a lightweight electric vehicle, but a sudden load dominated with a high pulse. The most important requirement of the VDE is to consider the possible failure of individual electronic components. In this case, the battery should always pass into a safe state. If the battery is being charged at such a moment, the charging process must be stopped reliably. The necessary software required for the battery management system should also be stronger than previously tested for possible errors. The current standards require far above all the documentation of software development, but not sufficiently their test. To be insufficient to keep the experts of the VDE also the existing standards for the high-voltage electrical system. The drive components of an electric vehicle with working voltages of up to more than 800 volts. After an accident must be made absolutely sure that these components are safe and well drained with no unwanted discharge of strong deformation of the body. This would endanger the employees of fire and rescue service. The existing regulation UN ECE R100 does prescribe minimum standards, but again does not take into account the real situation on the road sufficiently. For example, an electric dry, not a dirty and wet body on their conductivity and resistance to ground is examined. There are no adequate and transparent rules for bicycles with electric auxiliary drive (pedelecs). It is estimated that 95 percent of the VDE pedelecs be sold without any security check. Especially critical is the charger: It must prevent overloads reliable, so the battery does not overheat. Unlike the weather-protected charging stations for electric vehicles with power from on pedelecs are often designed only for use in buildings. Will they still be used outdoors, it must be given a safe protection against moisture. The batteries are pedelecs despite their smaller size and lower energy content of safety-critical components. Taken into account, among other things, that bicycles are often parked close to each other in hallways and basements and are located could be a battery ignited a chain reaction triggered an unprecedented scale. The VDE is actively involved in the design of future standards for electric vehicles. He took over the worn by the VDE DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies of DIN and VDE (VDE | DKE) the lead in the creation and development of the German technical planning for electric vehicles. The resulting "road map" has been available since February 2012 in a revised version that addresses the issue of the safety standards and also for charging infrastructure and the integration of electric vehicles into smart grids. For more information visit About the VDE and VDE Institute The Union of Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (VDE), with 36,000 members (including 1,300 companies, 8,000 students, 6,000 young professionals) and 1,100 employees, is one of the major technical and scientific associations in Europe. The VDE combines science, standards and product testing under one roof. VDE activity fields of technology, knowledge transfer, research and professional development of key technologies, electrical engineering, electronics and information technology and its applications. The safety in electrical engineering, the development of codes of practice as a national and international standards, testing and certification of equipment and systems are other priorities. The VDE Mark, know that 63 percent of Germans considered to be synonymous with the highest safety standards. More than 100,000 units per year undergo the independent testing engineers of the VDE Testing and Certification GmbH, a tough test before they receive the VDE mark. Around the globe monitor the VDE experts more than 7,000 manufacturing facilities. Cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries ensure that the VDE Institute conducted tests are internationally recognized. Worldwide, 200 000 product types carry one million models the VDE mark. The non-profit VDE Testing and Certification Institute in Offenbach employs approximately 500 employees. The technology areas of the VDE: information technology, energy technology, medical technology, microelectronics, micro-and nano-technology and automation.