Chapter 15 - Safety and reliability evaluation for electric vehicles in modern power system networks

Abstract

In recent decades, following the introduction of alternative energy sources, the trend of using fossil-fuel energy predominantly has changed. In this regard, the automotive industry, as one of the largest industries in the world, has made significant contributions. Original equipment manufacturers have played an important role in overcoming the problem of fossil fuel-reliance by introducing electric vehicles (EVs) as ‘green cars’. However, new challenges have emerged with regard to EVs, such as lifetime forecasting, failures analysis, and safety issues. The safety and reliability of EVs’ components are important aspects to consider when looking at the system from a broader perspective, particularly with regard to lifetime, service, and maintenance and so on. This chapter presents different viewpoints on the reliability and safety of EVs’ electrical components. Furthermore, the challenges and long-term perspective of EVs in relation to safety and reliability are investigated here.