Charged EVs | Honeywell releases new Battery Safety Electrolyte Sensor to detect thermal runaway in EVs

Honeywell has released a new generation of battery safety sensors. The Battery Safety Electrolyte Sensor (BES) series is designed specifically for enhanced safety in lithium-ion battery on-road applications, and exceeds industry standards for performance and reliability, according to the company.

The new BES uses Honeywell’s proprietary Li-ion Tamer [clever!] electrolyte gas detection technology to identify “first vent” events. These events serve as early warning signs of potential battery malfunctions, enabling the system to issue alerts 5 to 20 minutes prior to a risk of fire.

The sensors can detect multiple gases released during thermal runaway, which minimizes the risk of false negatives. The integration process is facilitated by a rate of change algorithm, which eliminates the need for target gas threshold testing. This feature is designed to reduce integration costs and shorten project timelines.

SEE ALSO: Honeywell BES LITE sensor designed for non-automotive applications

The sensors incorporate the CAN communication protocol, and feature two operating modes, which can be selected via CAN commands. In Normal mode, the sensor operates at full functionality with active CAN communication. In Eco mode, CAN communication is disabled, which reduces power consumption by 60%—however, the sensor automatically reverts to Normal mode to send alarm signals to the Battery Management System (BMS) in the event of an alarm condition.

Source: Honeywell Sensing Solutions