Continental EV Safety Sensor to Enter Production in 2012

Continental has revealed details of a new sensor for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which eliminates the risk of suffering an electric shock. Dubbed evSAT, the sensor is set to enter series production with a major German vehicle manufacturer in 2012.

Specifically, what evSAT (Satellite for Electric Vehicles) does is to immediately shut off the high-voltage battery in the event of a collision. evSAT consists of an independent, triaxial sensor with a CAN (controller area network) interface. During the charge phase, the other vehicle electronics, including the airbag system are not operational.

The accelerator sensor employs an algorithm to detect a frontal, rear or side collision with another vehicle and immediately transmits a signal via the CAN interface to the battery management system which then switches off the battery within half a second.

evSAT reacts in the same way if it detects a rollover in driving mode. In this case, the battery is deactivated within four seconds at most. In the event of other types of driving accidents, evSAT remains inactive. In such cases, the airbag system assumes the task of cutting off the battery. If the electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle has been switched off and is not being charged, the evSAT moves to a standby mode to prevent the battery discharging.

"The evSAT acceleration sensor is active in charge mode. It detects an accident and passes this information on to the battery management system which then shuts off the high-voltage battery," said Axel Gesell, Senior Manager Platform Development Sensors & Satellites, in the Passive Safety and ADAS business unit of Continental's Chassis & Safety Division.

"The major benefit of our product is that it prevents fire and rescue service personnel sustaining high-voltage injuries when coming into contact with vehicle metal parts or if they have to cut through the vehicle to recover accident victims," Gesell added.