Vehicles constitute a major risk in society, due to their velocity and power, which are causes of traffic accidents, and due to their design and components, which may cause fires, explosions and chemical contamination. These risks are also present in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, however there are also additional risk factors. Risks in electric vehicles (EV) can be classified in three categories: Risks deriving from electric shock, electromagnetic influence and ignition hazards (electrical risks), risks associated with heat generation, flammability, explosion and toxicity hazards (chemical risks), and risks associated with crashworthiness, braking capacity and other mechanical breakdown (mechanical risks). Factors analyzed include automotive components, such as batteries, electric motors, fuel cells, fuel tanks for hybrids, and brakes, as well as overall vehicle properties, such as crashworthiness, stability, and noise level. Infrastructure features such as charging facilities, fuel supplies, repair shops, and recycling systems have also been considered. Identified hazards are primarily the low noise level, loss of control in quick maneuvers, and electric insulation failure during unskilled maintenance. Two specific and much debated risks are lead contamination from the production of large batteries and possible health effects of the electromagnetic fields generated by the electric vehicles. The present investigation does not indicate that these factors constitute a major risk. The lower noise level, however, could result in a higher pedestrian (and cyclist) accident rate. Loss of control in quick maneuvers may occur because of possible differences in mass distribution. The electrical energy stored is sufficient to injure and possibly kill people if access to contact poles is possible, for example in non-skilled maintenance practices. These risks should be observed in coming regulations as well as during design and testing. Some standards and regulations already exist, and compliance with them will reduce the overall risk substantially. Detailed reviews and analyses of different factors can be found in the full report.
Risk in connection with electric vehicles
Risiken auf Grund des Betriebs von Elektrofahrzeugen
2000
15 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 1 Quelle
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Datenträger
Englisch
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