Current, temperature, physical impact sensors to protect batteries of Evs

Battery is the most important and expensive component of an electric car. The storage density of lithium ion batteries is in the range of 50-260 Wh/kg. With that amount of energy stored they need to be monitored and safeguarded to ensure longevity of batteries and also protecting them from catching fire. The batteries should be monitored for any over voltage, excess current, temperature and also physical damage. The automotive component maker Continental has come out with two new sensors, one for measuring current and temperature and the other for physical impact sensing/detection. The high-voltage Current Sensor Module (CSM) measures current and temperature at same time and the Battery Impact Detection (BID) system detects any physical impact to the battery compartment. “Vehicle electrification brings new use cases and thus opens up more opportunities to our sensor activities, because an electric car has all the sensor needs a conventional car has – and more,” says Laurent Fabre, Head of Passive Safety and Sensorics Segment at Continental. “Protecting the battery and retaining its performance, for instance, are two additional tasks in electrified vehicles. The Current Sensor Module and Battery Impact Detection solutions serve both purposes.” CSM can be integrated into the battery itself or into the external electrical/electronic system connecting to the battery....