UNS — Embracing the era of electric vehicles, the Center for Excellence in Science and Technology (PUI) Lithium Battery, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, as a research center for battery energy storage, conveyed the security features of electric vehicles. Reported from YouTube Espos Live on Wednesday (3/30/2022), the Secretary of PUI Lithium Battery UNS, Prof. Ir. Muhammad Nizam, ST., MT., Ph.D., explained that the main aspect to be considered in the electric vehicles safety is the battery as engine fuel.
Domestic production of electric vehicles has become the government focus to reduce carbon emissions by 29%, and it is expected that in the next 2 to 3 years, battery components as fuel for electric vehicles in the country can be fulfilled. “Answering the question of whether electric vehicles are dangerous, the real concern is the fuel system. Electric cars use electric fuel, which is actually promising for several years to come,” said Prof. Nizam.
Components-wise, the charging process for electric fuels does not affect the vehicle weight, thus, the vehicle weight is relatively constant. However, safety factors are important and should not be ignored, namely safety factors. Similar to ICE vehicles, safety in electric vehicles is not only about preventing crashes but also related to battery safety. “The first concern is the placement of batteries as fuel for electric vehicles, and the compartments should be safe. Temperature-sensitive batteries are dangerous if placed in an unsafe environment. Therefore, proper battery placement with the right coolant will reduce hazards, such as explosion, burn, etc. In electric vehicles, especially two-wheelers, the placement of the battery must be able to withstand flooding or splashing water effect,” said Prof. Nizam.
The safety of this battery is also measured from the shape of the pack. A pack is a collection of very large battery cells. Limited space and compartments for the battery pack in electric vehicles will be a challenge in the future. “Actually, the battery is only a container; what is needed as fuel is the electrical energy. However, inside the battery, there is an electrochemical chemical process. We need to pay attention to how the casing or cover can be well protected against bump or collision,” added Prof. Nizam.
After knowing security in terms of components, the next aspect that needs to be observed is safety testing. Batteries used for electric vehicles must pass a safety test and have passed the applicable standard. This test, other than measuring the battery’s capacity, also guarantees how the battery will stay in a safe state. “There is an ISO standard, but usually for two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles, the standard used is the R136 or UN38.3. In total, there are about 17 tests. But in Indonesia, to meet the UN38.3 standard, eight tests are considered sufficient. Or, if we want to be a little extensive, for example, using the R136 standard, there could be ten to a dozen tests to pass. This testing can guarantee that the battery is safe,” said Prof. Nizam. Humas UNS
Reporter: Erliska Yuniar Purbayani
Editor: Dwi Hastuti