The UK Government Department for Transport (DfT) launched a public consultation on reforms to MOTs in the UK, aiming to make the tests fit for the future of road transport. Among the proposals put forth by the DfT is to make electric vehicle (EV) battery testing a mandatory requirement, in light of concerns over safety risks. The consultation notes that battery checks are essential because “a damaged battery could have safety implications if it fails in use. With ongoing technology advancements, data may increasingly be available to assess the health of the battery in an electric vehicle.”
Sarah Martin, president of Honeywell Sensing and Safety Technologies, has made the following comments on the DfT’s consultation, welcoming the focus on battery health:
“Global sales of EVs doubled in 2021 from the previous year, and 2022 data shows that year over year sales of EVs continue to climb. Many of these vehicles today use lithium-ion batteries as an energy source, which can pose rare but significant safety risks including fires that can impact drivers on the road, homeowners who may have EVs parked in their garages, and shipping handlers transporting EVs to their final destinations. Focusing on battery health as part of MOT tests is valuable for ensuring driver safety and the long-term performance of the vehicle.
“The cause of fires varies but chief among them is thermal runaway, a phenomenon that causes extremely high temperatures within the battery cell where it no longer functions properly and may eventually lead to vehicle failure, smoke, and fire. There are a number of factors that may affect the risk of this happening, including internal defects, an external short circuit, or over-charging. Protecting against thermal runaway in electric vehicle batteries is crucial to helping keep people safe.
“Fortunately, the DfT is correct: data is increasingly available to monitor EV battery health. Automakers are facing the need to provide lithium-ion batteries that are safe and reliable throughout their lifespan, so they are turning to new solutions for battery health monitoring. Advancements in sensor technology are providing battery management systems with better quality data that is making it possible to detect the signs of thermal runaway even earlier. The use of high-accuracy sensors can also provide more data around the health of EV batteries, helping drivers to minimise their risk even as their EV ages.”
