EV and Warning Lights!
March 1, 2013
Question about warning lights on EV? ICE vehicles have warning lights and reserve power should there be a problem on the road. From warning lights to operable charging sockets, a stranded motorist has several ways to secure help and remain safe for a limited time. In the event of loss of electricity, how do EV’s provide ability to similar measures?
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Through simple compliance with the technical regulations and type approval requirements for an EV. I hope this was a rhetorical question
ICE reserve power? Was that a rhetorical question too?
I don’t know the specific details for different EVs, but there are two ways to handle electrical power in an EV. In the first, you keep two completely separate electrical systems: a high-voltage system for the motors and a 12-volt system for everything else, with a 12-volt battery. In this case, there would be no difference between ICEV and EV: their general-purpose electrical systems are powered the same way.
In the second arrangement, you tap the high-voltage batteries to get 12 volts. That strikes me as problematic, as you’d need a voltage-reduction system capable of delivering a lot of current. Even so, such a system would probably still function even when the voltage level of the batteries falls below the minimum required for propulsion. My guess is that the main computer would monitor battery levels and shut down propulsion when the charge was too low, but retain emergency functions using the remaining charge.