Are lithium-ion batteries safe?
The lithium-ion battery installed in the Central Hudson PHEVs are safe, and meet UL certification standards and have been certified for use in transportation. Extensive safety precautions also have been taken at the system level. The modules contain battery management systems that monitor the voltage of each cell in the pack along with the temperature of the battery modules. This information is fed into the electronics controller, which automatically terminates charge or discharge in the event that any safety limits are reached. The battery module is equipped with a number of over temperature switches inside the battery pack that will automatically disconnect the batteries, if necessary, without the controller’s intervention. Further, the packs have been crash tested in accordance with National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations, passing all tests.
