BDUs (battery disconnect units) are at the heart of electric vehicle (EV) safety — not only for occupants, but for the protection of valuable circuitry throughout the vehicles. As EV innovators explore ways to advance safety and performance goals (while shrinking BDU footprints) they are discovering the value of multi-function "smart sensors" designed under functional safety aspects for precision measurement and long life. Learn more about next-gen options in this detailed presentation.
Overview
Gaining a deeper understanding of the principles behind BDU design will enable participants to make better-informed decisions in designing and optimizing BDUs for next-gen electric vehicles (EVs).
First, we'll review basic principles and three most common approaches to BDU design in use today. We'll discuss the pros and cons of each method, especially with regard to smart sensing, and how they serve the particular demands of various EV applications.
Next, we'll explore upcoming challenges on the horizon for EVs, including: greater power demands, smaller footprints for all kinds of circuitry (including BDUs), environmental challenges for heavy-duty applications and specialty vehicles (e.g. mining, agriculture, aerospace), and cost/value analysis for mass-consumer production.
We'll present a comprehensive survey of "smart sensor" options for precision measurement of current, voltage, temperature and isolation monitoring — outlining how to use better sensing to improve the safety and performance of your BDUs. Discussion will include current and next-gen options as well as a look into what's in the pipeline for the near future.
Finally, we'll open the forum up to questions that will be addressed by one of the leading experts in sensors for BDUs (and EV applications generally).
Key Takeaways
- Review the principles of advanced BDU design
- Outline the three basic approaches to BDU circuitry
- Understand objectives and requirements for next-gen EVs/BDU smart sensing
- Discover new space-saving options for current/voltage/temp sensing/Isolation monitoring/fuse actuation
Speaker
Hilpert holds an MBA and a M.Eng degree (Wirtschaftsingenieur) from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. He started his professional career as a Product Manager with Monier, a European roofing material manufacturer. After that he moved on to Isabellenhütte, starting off as a Field Application Engineer making use of the knowledge in sales and technical project management he had acquired during his years at Monier. Hilpert held different positions within Isabellenhuette company, in the process also moving from Germany to the U.S. where he is now located and is responsible for all Precision Measurement-related sales activities in the Americas.