Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1496365
currents, and harsh operating conditions within an EV. Some common points of failure in an EV include many of the high- power subsystems such as batteries, chargers, DC/DC converters, and motors. If the system is not designed properly, a failure of any of these subsystems could have cascading implications throughout the system and eventually become a significant hazard to the vehicle occupants. Thus, vehicle electrification systems should be designed in such a way that if a single-point failure does happen, it will never lead to an accident that could harm the driver or affect the environment. Designing for safety in this respect first requires a deep understanding of the safety goals of the targeted system, including what potential threats the system may encounter and how to account for them. Beyond this, designers must analyze the common failure modes of each subsystem, which could include mechanical, semiconductor, hardware, and software points of failure. Finally, systems and components should be designed with high levels of redundancy and built-in safety mechanisms such that if one subsystem fails, the failure can be isolated and mitigated. All things considered, safety requires judicious component selection and system integration. NXP helps customers design safe vehicle electrification solutions by doing the following: • Offering semiconductor solutions that are designed with multiple safety mechanisms to avoid failure modes of the component itself and support the system safety concept • Providing products that are compliant with the highest safety integrity level (ASIL D) • Developing products with a systems approach to ensure compatibility and simplify the design of safety systems C h a p t e r 2 | D e s i g n i n g f o r S a f e t y For an EV to be safe, it needs to operate reliably no matter what conditions it faces. With new safety technology, modern EVs have the ability to withstand and tackle any environment such as dust, snow, ice, and rain, in the most extreme of conditions." Antonio Aviles Electronics Design Engineer, General Motors 10 7 Experts on Designing Vehicle Electrification Solutions