FUNCTIONAL SAFETY AT MUNICH ELECTRIFICATION
“It's like we're baking a cake, but instead of flour, we're using safety. And instead of frosting, we're using... more safety.”
Today's conversation partner: Pratik - Lead Functional Safety Manager
Hi Pratik, thank you for joining us today. Please tell us a bit more about you and your role at Munich Electrification.
Hey there safety enthusiasts and curious cats! Thank you for having me. I'm Pratik, the functional Safety manager at Munich Electrification. I've been with the company for over 4 and half years now, leading our efforts in functional safety for electric vehicle and stationary storage systems. My background is in systems engineering, with a focus on safety-critical applications in the automotive and other industries.
What do we talk about today?
Today's Hot Topic: Functional Safety (It's Cooler Than It Sounds, I Promise!). We're diving into the world of functional safety in electric vehicle battery management systems. It's like the unsung hero of the engineering world - always there to save the day, but rarely getting the spotlight it deserves.
It also happens to be at the core of Munich Electrification's expertise.
And why is this topic so important?
In simple words, functional safety defines how we can avoid unnecessary risks against the failure of electric and electronic components. The aim is that no person gets harmed or injured , when interacting with a system that consists of products developed by Munich Electrification.
Take an example of a high-voltage battery in an electric vehicle. It is typically a Li-Ion battery and these are susceptible to a fire-hazard, if not operated safely. This is where a functional safety compliant battery management system comes in. Functional safety is the active part of the overall safety which ensures that the high-voltage battery in a passenger car does not run into a hazardous situation. This is achieved with the help of a battery management system. This approach is also extended for other applications such as trucks, stationary storage systems, ships, trucks etc.
HV batteries today are incredibly powerful and full of energy, but if not managed properly, things can get hot... and not in a good way. Our battery management system is like Gordon Ramsay, keeping everything in check and making sure there are no kitchen nightmares.
What does Functional Safety mean at ME?
At Munich Electrification, functional safety means developing battery management systems and other products that are not only innovative but also inherently safe.. We follow a comprehensive approach aligned with ISO 26262 and other standards, integrating safety considerations from the earliest stages of design through to production. Our focus is on creating robust systems that can detect, mitigate, and safely manage potential failures or cyber threats.
The great part about our approach is that safety processes and concepts go hand-in-hand with the complete lifecycle of the product development processes. Whether it is system engineering, hardware development, software development, testing and validation at various stages, functional safety is at the core of each step.
What are the benefits of Functional Safety at ME?
The benefits of our approach to functional safety at Munich Electrification are significant. Our customers can sleep better at night (and so can we).
Enhanced product reliability: Our rigorous safety processes result in more dependable products, reducing the risk of critical failures and ensuring a longer lifetime of ME products for our customers.
End application alignment: It is ensured from a very early stage of any project that the customer safety targets are met by the Munich Electrification solutions.
Competitive advantage: By prioritizing safety, we differentiate ourselves in the market and build trust with our customers.
Regulatory compliance: Our work has to stand up under the microscope of external certifiers. Our systems are designed to meet and exceed the latest safety standards, ensuring smooth certification processes.
Cost-effectiveness: By integrating safety early in the development process, we avoid costly redesigns and recalls.
Innovation enablement: Our safety-first approach actually drives innovation, pushing us to develop novel solutions that are both cutting-edge and safe.
What are the challenges that the industry is facing nowadays and how are we tackling them?
Making electric vehicles that won't break the bank (or your spirit)! Today many industries, such as automotive and energy storage systems are facing significant challenges:
Cost effective and quick solutions.
Various markets are struggling to sell electric vehicles since the vehicles at the moment cannot compete against the traditional internal combustion engine vehicles or they have fierce competition from other players from the asian markets.
An early and deliberate focus on functional safety in a development cycle has proven that we avoid costly redesigns, bad surprises and potential recalls.
Navigating the Maze of overlapping Standards
Imagine you're developing a versatile current sensor for use across automotive, stationary and other applications. Each industry comes with its own labyrinth of safety norms and regulations, creating a complex web of overlapping yet distinct requirements. This regulatory landscape presents a unique challenge: how do you create a product that satisfies multiple sets of standards simultaneously?
The key lies in the expertise of seasoned professionals who can:
Decipher the nuances between different industry norms
Identify common threads across various standards
Craft innovative approaches that meet diverse requirements with minimal redundancy
These skilled navigators of the regulatory realm are essential in charting an efficient course through the sea of compliance.
Agile approach to the software development:
In recent years, the focus on an agile approach has increased. The traditional waterfall model of development for software is not practical enough for today’s industry norms. There is a growing emphasis on quick development cycles, over-the-air updates.
Fortunately, at Munich Electrification, a CI/CD-based development approach—think of software processes that are more agile than a gymnast—has long been adopted, all while ensuring that the safety requirements are still met.
Do you have any special developments you are very proud of?
Certainly! Bologna BMS and its safety compliance:
For example our Bologna platform, where the BMS in my words stands for ‘Basically Magic Safety’! The Bologna BMS has been assessed by various third-party and customer certification bodies in recent years and it has proven to meet its safety targets which are up to ASIL C as per ISO 26262.
This product is successfully and safely integrated into various applications such as passenger cars, commercial vehicles, buses in various markets across the world.
And the Barcelona Stationary Storage BMS: We have developed a BMS specifically for energy storage systems up to 1500 V DC. This product has been independently assessed via a third-party and is deemed suitable for use in the industrial applications according to ISO 13849.
We've got cars, buses, and now energy storage systems safer than a bubble-wrapped kitten in a padded room.
And apart from the above, we are working on many other components such as current sensors and other electric powertrain components with exciting safety concepts, and ambitious safety goals of up to ASIL D. I am looking forward to setting these products to achieve their intended safety targets and proof of compliance in the near future.
SUMMARY
At Munich Electrification, we're not just along for the ride – we're in the driver's seat of the future of mobility. We're tackling the tough stuff, from making car batteries smarter.
We are also at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges facing the automotive industry. We're tackling issues such as the integration of advanced technologies, cross-compliance across different industries and the transition to electric and software-defined vehicles. Our innovative developments, including the Bologna BMS and Barcelona stationary storage systems, demonstrate our commitment to driving progress in the industry. By focusing on cost-effective development, functional safety, and cutting-edge software solutions, we're helping to shape the future of mobility and energy storage.
Thank you very much Pratik, for your time and insights into the topic!
ME Bologna BMS
Barcelona Stationary Storage BMS
