An electric vehicle is not less safe than traditional endothermic ones; the most serious risk is the thermal runaway of the battery pack; during research and development, therefore, it’s necessary to design and develop safety systems that make it increasingly difficult to arrive at the point of “Thermal Runaway”. On electric vehicles, all the components need to work in harmony thanks to an increasingly sophisticated management system involving advanced thermal and software checks that predict every criticality in advance.
Safety, whether passive or active, has become increasingly important in the last few years in the choice of a car. Safety is a technical characteristic increasingly considered with attention by users, regardless of the type of motorization, endothermic or electric.
Those most critical of electric mobility often repeat that the batteries are highly inflammable and assisted by high voltage power supply systems, therefore giving grounds for serious concern. In actual fact, electric cars are at least as safe as endothermic ones thanks to the implementation of a serious of technical measures that aim at protecting the occupants, any rescuers, and other road users nearby.
What happens to an electric car in the event of an accident?
All automobiles made and sold today have to meet the same rigid design standards according to the Euro NCAP procedures, including electric and electrified cars. Today’s vehicles have robust bodies and areas designed for safe deformation. Where necessary, numerous airbags are provided that further protect the driver and passengers of the vehicle.
There is always the risk of fire, however, regardless of whether the vehicle is petrol, gas, diesel or electric.
In the event of a serious collision, a phenomenon known as “thermal runaway”, that is, a short-circuit between the cells of the battery, could occur; the inflammable electrolyte inside a damaged battery could heat up until reaching a critical temperature. The thermal runaway could trigger a chain reaction in which the materials of the battery components decompose.
Thermal runaway is an extremely improbable event, particularly in today’s electric vehicles, thanks to the presence of new containment systems that avoid the creation of any short-circuits.
The power supply at 400 or 800 Volt is a further point of common discussion: in the event of an accident, the integrated sensors on the electric car automatically interrupt the high-tension cables. In the latest cars, there’s also a small airbag that detaches the battery, further facilitating the disconnection of the power supply systems.
Recharging while it rains?
It should be pointed out that specific connectors have been developed for recharging that prevent any infiltration of rainwater, humidity or dirt. The recharging of electric vehicles can be carried out in complete safety irrespective of the worst possible weather conditions.
One of the Reinova’s main objectives is to reduce to a minimum the risks of automobile devices and systems thanks, also, to extremely sophisticated testing and validation machines that simulate in a short time the entire duration of the components or complete assembly.
Reinova develops the best possible systems together with its clients, including dedicated software for making electric vehicles and their integrated parts ever safer.