Highest standards of technology

Electromobility is a decisive component for sustainable individual mobility of the future. Electrical energy storage in high-voltage batteries is an essential core element of all electric and hybrid vehicles (hereinafter: e-vehicles) and plays an important role in this context. Currently, high-performance lithium-ion battery systems are preferred because they have high energy densities compared to other battery concepts.

Battery research, development, and production for automotive applications are based on the experience gained in the field of consumer electronics. However, the particular quality and safety requirements of the automotive industry necessitate additional development and validation efforts for battery systems. Thus, lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications are designed with safety-relevant aspects in mind, as is true of the entire vehicle and the other main components. Additional investigations at the cell, module, and system level evaluate and verify behavior under accident conditions (such as crash, shock, intrusion, and fire), operational stability, and system reliability.

The development and production of lithium-ion batteries follow the principle of hazard avoidance. For this purpose, analyses are carried out and appropriate measures are derived. The systems are tested in accordance with the recognized technological regulations and the corresponding normative requirements. These include functional safety, which ensures the safe operation of the battery systems during vehicle use, and the applicable crash standards.

Comprehensive repair and maintenance instructions have been developed and validated during the development of e-vehicles. These are tailored to the special features of e-vehicles and are available to workshops. Employees must be specially trained and instructed to be able to carry out work on e-vehicles. Only employees with the appropriate qualifications are allowed to work on the high-voltage system in e-vehicles. The preparation for precisely these challenges has been carried out in close cooperation with the trade associations and the workshops.

Lithium-ion batteries and the drive system with its special high voltage level must face special safety requirements. Safeguarding the battery systems is therefore an important part of vehicle development.