British battery sensor agency Metis Engineering stated on Tuesday it has developed a sensor to measure electrical automobile (EV) battery well being that ought to enable insurers to correctly assess harm after accidents and permit them to keep away from pointless write-offs.
For a lot of EVs, there has up to now been no approach to restore or assess even barely broken battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance coverage firms to put in writing off low-mileage vehicles – resulting in larger premiums and undercutting positive aspects from going electrical.
In addition to detecting thermal runaway – a speedy and unstoppable enhance in temperature that results in fires in EVs –
Metis’ Cell Guard sensor incorporates an accelerometer that may detect the length and severity of collisions even whereas the automotive is switched off, CEO Joe Holdsworth advised Reuters.
The sensor can even test for venting, the place broken batteries leak gasoline that trigger explosions.
Bristol-based Metis is working with round 160 carmakers and battery storage firms on testing the matchbox-sized sensor, Holdsworth stated. He declined to reveal names.
He added {that a} main insurance coverage firm is utilizing the sensor for crash checks to raised perceive the impression on batteries.
Relying on how the sensor is configured inside an EV, third events ought to be capable to entry the sensor’s knowledge to see how badly a battery is broken – which might deal with a serious grievance from insurers that they lack entry to knowledge on an EV battery’s well being after an accident.
Holdsworth stated the sensor may additionally assist deal with issues over used EVs.
“The unknown threat of poor EV battery well being is without doubt one of the greatest and most important obstacles hindering the expansion of the used EV market,” he stated.
The corporate has manufacturing capability of as much as 1,000 models day by day, which could possibly be simply expanded, he added.
