Safety Design of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment

Abstract

Besides cost issue, the charging infrastructures popularization and charging safety assurance are two major concerns for promoting electric vehicles (EVs). Several pilot-run programs, such as in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Taiwan as well, enforce the safety compliance of EVs and infrastructures as an implementation policy. To be part of the players, it is essential to have the comprehensive understanding of the standard differences among IEC, SAE/UL, GB and JEVS. The way to compile the issued standards in different regions, however, is time consuming and may get limited helpful hints until tried and tested. Based on above-mentioned standards, this study summarized an overview in aspects of construction, function, performance and safety for charging equipments. To facilitate as a competent safety design, key requirements of electrical safety were presented. These crucial design rules included functional requirements, constructional requirements, personal protection against electric shock, insulation coordination, electromagnetic compatibility and charging control. The rationale and compliance requirements were highlighted to assist as design guidelines. In addition, learning from the past is always a good approach to build confidence to comply with the safety requirements. Based on the standards-follow most IEC and some SAE/UL-for pilot-run project in Taiwan, a case study of an AC charging stand provided the safety faults encountered and solutions in designing a new product that can meet safety requirements effectively. With these design guidelines and the case study, this paper provided a solid basis of safety design for electric vehicle charging equipments.

Occupational risk management of equipment intended for charging electric vehicles

“…For charging control, the pilot control circuit is the main control means to ensure correct and safe operation when connecting an electric vehicle to an equipment/charging station. [6] The DC charging equipment must be constructed in such a way that an EV can be connected to the power supply equipment, under normal conditions of use, the transfer of energy through the conduit must be carried out safely, and its performance must be reliable and minimize the risk of danger to the user or the environment [7,8] Starting from these general requirements, depending on the charging stations' type and characteristics, the specific safety and health requirements were established, summarized in During the case studies, the analysis and evaluation of the conformity of the charging stations in use with the safety and health identification requirements were performed, being highlighted a series of non-conformities related to ensuring protection against electric shock by indirect touch (lack of additional protection measure against electric shock by indirect touch). The non-compliance, in most cases, was also generated by the accompanying documents (technical book, instructions for use), which did not comply with the objectives provided by GD no.…”

High-Voltage Stations for Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging: Trends, Standards, Charging Modes and Comparison of Unity Power-Factor Rectifiers

“…This has led to the regulation of charging stations. In this context, there are several standards defined by organizations for EV charging established worldwide [52][53][54][55]: IEC, SAE, IEEE, GB/T, CHAdeMO, among others. Figure 6 shows the electric stages of an EV: (I) the charging stage, (II) the battery stage (where there is a 7 battery system, which is charged through the stage (I)) and finally, (III) the power train (composed by the power converter 8 and the electric motor 9 which is responsible for transmitting the power to the wheels).…”

Estação de Carregamento Rápido com Elemento Armazenador de Energia e Filtro Ativo de Harmônicos para Veículos Elétricos

“…No domínio da infraestrutura de carregamento, estão compreendidas as normas dos equipamentos de carregamento, da infraestrutura de comunicação e da compatibilidade eletromagnética, presentes na Tabela I [24]- [26].…”