Although battery-based electric designs in off-highway vehicles have been around for a long time, the use of lithium-based batteries in these vehicles has been relatively recent. Electrification offers several advantages over conventional designs, including improved efficiency, emissions reduction and low maintenance. Nevertheless, there are challenges involved, particularly related to the battery systems, owing to their stringent operating and safety specifications. Failure of battery systems can be hazardous and requires systematic investigation techniques to evaluate the root cause. This presentation highlights some of these techniques and presents case studies to understand the importance of safety-critical battery designs.

• Typical battery system designs in off-highway vehicles
• Failure modes associated with battery systems and root cause investigation techniques
• Importance of a systematic investigation using case studies