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Zakłócenia EMC w pojazdach elektrycznych
03.09.2024

Electromagnetic interference in electric vehicles

Electronic systems in a car are a source of electromagnetic interference. Many of them are easily removed by using engineering […]

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Electronic systems in a car are a source of electromagnetic interference.
Many of them are easily removed by using engineering methods, such as running signal pairs as twisted pairs and selecting the impedance of the transmission path.
Sometimes it is easier to ensure compliance with the requirements that electromagnetic compatibility enforces by changing electromagnetic waves to another type of radiation, namely light.
In recent years, the number of devices that can cause interference has increased, and EMI carried by magnetic fields and related phenomena are becoming an important part of testing.
Requirements to meet certain standards are causing manufacturers to look for EMC alternatives.
Electric vehicle electromagnetic interference is forcing manufacturers to develop and use innovative materials in the car.

Components for the elimination of electromagnetic interference

In practice car electronics must be shielded with metal shielding to keep interactions between modules at an acceptable level.
As mentioned earlier, such shielding increases costs at the production stage as well as the weight of electric vehicles.
Therefore, other, lighter and cheaper materials are being sought to reduce electromagnetic fields.

Smaller components can be shielded from electromagnetic fields with:

  • Carbon nanotube plastics (provide good electrical conductivity with little material addition)

  • Composites with metal fibers (polymers reinforced with short metal fibers, such as copper or aluminum)

An interesting approach to the topic may be the use of components that are waste in another manufacturing process.
Research is being conducted using waste materials in the form of zinc ore.
The share of ore at 80-90% and the creation of a composite with PVC gives results at the level of signal reduction by 80%.
At the same time, the higher the proportion of PVC, the lower the attenuation efficiency.
The search for shielding materials that can be used in automotive applications is still ongoing.

Electromagnetic waves can be attenuated in cars by using composites.
For larger components, they are used:

  • plastics with copper or aluminum (provide good conductivity while maintaining relatively low weight)

  • polymer composites with the addition of carbon fibers (they combine the lightness of polymers with the conductivity of carbon fibers).

Innowacyjne materiały ekranujące EMI dla motoryzacji.
Przykład efektywności ekranowania polimeru w zależności od ilości dodanego węgla oraz częstotliwości. (https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/7/1289)

Natural occurrence of emc interference

At the stage of electric vehicle design, the interference posed by pulses generated by lightning cannot be overlooked.
The body of cars, including electric and hybrid ones, acts like a Faraday cage, which provides basic protection against lightning discharges.
Batteries and other high-voltage components are further insulated and protected.
This reduces the risk of damage in the event of a lightning strike.

Lightning strikes in close proximity can induce strong currents in electronic circuits and wires.
Therefore, additional shielding of key electronic components is used – surge protection systems and EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) filters .
To ensure that the induced current cannot appear in the interconnection networks, galvanic isolation is used between the various systems of the vehicle.

Is electromagnetic radiation dangerous?

Electromagnetic interferenceaffects electronic systems.
Some of them are sensitive by their very principle of operation such as cardioverter defibrillators or nerve stimulators used in medicine.
There are isolated reports of patients experiencing discomfort or anxiety when using electric cars, but it is difficult to clearly attribute these feelings to electromagnetic interference.
There may be a greater risk in the vicinity of high-powered fast charging stations, although even in these cases actual incidents are rare.
Many reports highlight the rather obvious fact that the likelihood of problems increases with the power of the device.
One should be aware that fast chargers have power that exceeds 100kW.
Their production of electromagnetic fields is inevitable.
In this case, however, classical methods can be used, i.e. shielding with heavy metal shielding.

Wysokiej jakości profesonalna taśma ekranująca
Shielding the wire harness with special tape. (https://www.designengineering.com/rfi-shield-split-sleeve-1-2-x-36/)

What is the most disruptive thing in a car?

Research characterizes the sources of interference in the car from several aspects.
One such division is that on the place where they are generated.
The most important points where electromagnetic interference is generated are:

(a) Inverter (inverter):

  • It generates high-frequency interference (tens of kHz to MHz).

  • It is characterized by sharp voltage peaks when switching transistors.

(b) Electric motor:

  • It emits lower frequency interference (up to a few kHz).

  • Speed-dependent characteristics.

(c) On-board charger:

  • Generates interference during charging (50/60 Hz and their harmonics).

  • It can emit high-frequency noise.

(d) Battery management system (BMS):

  • It emits low-power interference, but over a wide frequency spectrum.

(e) DC/DC converters:

  • They generate interference with a fixed switching frequency (usually several tens of kHz).
    The use of spectrum spreading methods makes it possible to reduce interference.

Keyless opening DOES NOT WORK - WHAT TO DO

Interference of keyless entry systems by electric and hybrid cars is an interesting and complex problem.
Interference can result in the inability to open/close the vehicle or start it.
The problem can affect not only the car generating the interference, but also vehicles in the vicinity.
The range of such interference is typically a few to tens of meters, depending on the intensity of the emissions and ambient conditions.

Data provided by users report nuisances that also affect safety.
The correlations between parking near charging stations and the problems that occur are evident.
Reports speak of the inability to open cars parked next to charging EVs.
For example, BMW i3 owners have reported problems opening cars parked near charging stations.
Additionally, there are problems with starting vehicles near operating charging stations.

Sometimes the problems described can be remedied remotely.
Some manufacturers have introduced software updates to reduce interfering emissions.
Others recommend holding the key in a special position or closer to the vehicle in problematic situations.
The automotive industry is actively working to minimize these problems, and each new generation of electric vehicles and keyless systems is usually better in this regard than the previous one.

How interference affects the car.

Electric and hybrid vehicles, despite advanced protection systems, exhibit some susceptibility to electromagnetic interference.
This susceptibility is due to the large number of advanced electronic and electrical systems that are crucial to the operation of these vehicles.
The vehicle is also a collection of receivers and therefore signals (interference) can affect areas such as:

  • Driver assistance systems.
    Radar sensors and cameras can be susceptible to interference, which can affect the performance of systems such as adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

  • Navigation and communication systems. GPS and cellular communications can be disturbed by strong electromagnetic fields, such as near the power grid of high-voltage power lines.

  • Errors in sensor readings: this can lead to incorrect information on the dashboard or erroneous operation of driver assistance systems.

  • Malfunction of security systems. In extreme cases, the magnetic field could interfere with ABS or traction control systems.
    The interference could lead to incorrect readings from wheel speed sensors, potentially affecting braking performance.

  • Comfort systems. Audio systems are particularly susceptible to EMI, which can manifest as noise or audio interference.
    Touch screens and infotainment systems – can experience glitches or instability in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields.

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity systems: used for mobile device connectivity and software updates.
    They are prone to interference, especially when operating in crowded urban environments.

The methods used to counteract this interference – in addition to the shielding already discussed, which is standard – are also other methods:

  • System redundancy: critical systems are often duplicated to ensure reliability.

  • Adaptive filtering: the use of intelligent filtering algorithms that adapt to changing EMI conditions.

  • Software updates: regular updates can improve systems’ resilience to EMI by optimizing signal processing algorithms.

EMC interference in electric cars - summary

With the development of electric vehicle technology, the issue of EMI is becoming more complex. The introduction of wireless charging systems and increasing charger power create new challenges. At the same time, advances in materials and shielding techniques are making it possible to reduce EMI more and more effectively.

Electromagnetic interference is a significant challenge in e-mobility development. They require continuous research and innovation to ensure the safety and reliability of electric and hybrid vehicles in an increasingly electromagnetically saturated environment. When driving an electric car, the driver becomes a user of many technologies, not just those closely related to electronics.

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