InMotion & HyTEPS: Full Speed Ahead Toward the Energy Transition
Climate change, largely caused by CO₂ emissions from traffic, demands action. Although electric vehicle charging offers a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, it has not yet been rolled out on a large scale. This is mostly due to relatively long charging times. Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) student team InMotion is working on a solution: Electric Refueling. With this fast-charging technology, recharging is possible in less than four minutes. An innovative battery pack has been implemented in the LMP3 race car Revolution.
Challenge
The team wanted to fully map the safety risks of this battery pack to ensure a safe working environment. Due to its innovative design—the battery is the only one of its kind—the potential risks differ from those of standard batteries.
“Of course, we want to be absolutely certain that our team members can work safely,” says Coen Verkuil, Business Developer at InMotion. “To determine exactly which Personal Protective Equipment we need to wear, arc flash measurements are essential.”
Objective
- Support safe work on energized distribution cabinets
- Determine required PPE per distribution cabinet and apply labels
- Provide recommendations for addressing unsafe locations based on the arc flash analysis
Solution
HyTEPS carried out specialized arc flash calculations on the battery pack. An arc flash is an electrical discharge between two conductors with a high current, occurring when electricity moves through the air. This can result in extreme heat or fire. HyTEPS recommended specific measures to limit the impact of a possible arc flash. They also assessed whether the distribution cabinets complied with the DGUV 203-077 standard. The analysis produced recommendations for appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), specifically tailored to the risks of working on high-voltage components. All simulation results, recommendations, and the final report were validated by multiple technical engineers.
Results
InMotion were quick to implement HyTEPS’ recommendations. New PPE was sourced, and the proposals were integrated into the team’s safety procedures. The collaboration resulted in a detailed understanding of risks and improved safety when working with the innovative battery design.
“HyTEPS’ proposals were clear and directly applicable. Their expertise not only helped us work more safely,” says Coen Verkuil, “but also supports the next step for InMotion: validating our technology under race conditions, with the ambition to demonstrate it at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The technology must not only prove itself from a technical perspective but also inspire faster adoption of electric driving.”
HyTEPS is proud to have supported this step toward the sustainability and electrification of mobility!
