The Importance of Learning Electrical Safety Application in a Hybrid and Electrical Mechanic Course
Electrical safety is essential in any field where workers are dealing with electricity. Electricity and its voltage are a strong source of energy that can be dangerous if not dealt with properly, particularly when it comes to working with automobiles.
At ATC Montreal, you will learn about different ways to ensure the safety of the mechanic and the driver when playing with electrical components in hybrid vehicles or EVs. Courses such as recherche techniques and high voltage systems may teach you how to properly use circuit breakers and be careful while working with electricity. Read on to learn more about the importance of electrical safety applications as a hybrid and electric vehicle mechanic!
Protect Yourself from High-Voltage Li-ion Batteries
During your hybrid and electrical mechanic training, you may learn how electric vehicles use multiple Lithium-ion battery cells to start an electric motor. Even with federal laws, the safety standards allow a high volume of Li-ion batteries, but because of their highly flammable electrolytes, they still present a hazard.
A downfall with Lithium-ion batteries is that they have a residual charge that can cause harm to workers, who may think that the battery is dead while it can still cause a fire. To prevent this, it is important to keep EVs with battery damage 50 meters away from combustible materials. Mechanics that work with electric vehicles with a range from 200 to 800 volts will have to be very careful, as they can risk electrocution from the current in the cables.
As a Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Mechanic, Always Disconnect the Battery
When working with batteries, mechanics should always unplug or turn off the battery before repairing parts. Whenever working with anything that has a voltage sensitivity, it is important to disconnect it. When you don’t disconnect a battery, the amount of heat that is generated by the cells in one area can spread to other cells and set off a chain reaction and cause an explosion.
You should also be aware that there can be multiple batteries in a car. For example, there may be one located between the wheelbases, but in an electric vehicle, there will be other ones throughout the vehicle. So before working on the vehicle make sure you have located every battery and turned off the ones you are working around.
The Afterlife of an Electric Vehicle
Whenever companies recycle electric vehicles, they need to take extra precautions to isolate them from other cars, remove fuses and unplug the battery. Usually only a hybrid and electric vehicle mechanic who is trained in safety protocols gets to handle EVs. They also need to be wearing lineman gloves that protect against shocks. Some places also have their own protocols such as using soft straps so there is no metal-on-metal contact with the EV’s battery. You can also have a fire blanket nearby that you can use whenever a car starts creating fire sparks.
Are you looking to go into a hybrid and electrical mechanic course?
Check out our program at ATC Montreal today!
