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The scope of this document is to provide an overview of the risks and protective precautions to ensure safe and effective testing procedures for the test personnel and the vehicle during the testing of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The main risks associated with a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle are the fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage vessel, fuel cell system components and the high voltage battery. Risks could be summarized from the battery into thermal runaway possibly leading to fire or explosion, electrolyte spillage and electrical shock or electrocution. The hydrogen fuel cell system risks include electrical shock or electrocution and possible release of hydrogen gas (if tested with). Vehicle crash testing protection should be coordinated with the system or component manufacturer(s) suggestions. Precautions should be taken with the handling, transportation, and storage of the vehicle pre-crash and post-crash.

The special risks associated with conducting crash tests on E-vehicles can be divided into two main categories: (1) thermal activity inside the battery (resulting from electrical or mechanical abuse) may lead to energetic emission of harmful and/or flammable gases, thermal runaway, and potentially fire; and (2) the risk of electrocution. Procedures to ensure protection from all types of risk must be integrated into the entire crash test process. This SAE Information Report is intended to provide guidance in this endeavor using current best practices at the time of this publication. As both battery technology and battery management system technology are in a phase of expansion, the contents of this report must then be gaged against current technology of the time and updated periodically to retain its applicability and usefulness.

The special risks associated with conducting crash tests on E-Vehicles can be divided into two main categories; 1) thermal activity inside the battery (resulting from electrical or mechanical abuse) may lead to energetic emission of harmful and/or flammable gases, thermal runaway, and potentially fire, and 2) the risk of electrocution. Procedures to ensure protection from all types of risk must be integrated into the entire crash test process. This informational report is intended to provide guidance in this endeavor using current best practices at the time of this publication. As both battery technology and battery management system technology is in a phase of expansion, the contents of this report must then be gaged against current technology of the time, and updated periodically to retain its applicability and usefulness.