Federal-Mogul’s High Voltage Cable Protection Makes Hybrids And

New U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations (FMVSS 305), which take effect on September 1, 2011, require manufacturers of hybrids and electric vehicles to ensure that, in the event of an impact, the electrical energy storage, conversion and traction systems do not threaten the safety of the vehicle occupants. Either the systems must be electrically isolated from the vehicle’s chassis or their voltage must be below specified levels that are considered safe from electric shock hazards. Similar safety regulations are expected to be introduced in other global markets.

Federal-Mogul’s CrushShield encases the wire harness so that the battery cable remains isolated from the conducting structure of the vehicle. CrushShield incorporates a rugged, multilayer fabric with a unique substrate design, which together absorbs and disperses energy. Its construction helps manufacturers of existing hybrid and electric vehicle models meet the new regulations without requiring electrical component or wiring redesign.

“This innovative product demonstrates Federal-Mogul’s depth of technical expertise in systems protection and our ability to quickly develop and deliver solutions to meet the needs of our customers,” said Ramzi Hermiz, senior vice president, Federal-Mogul Vehicle Safety and Protection. “CrushShield is the latest in a series of products that help the transportation industry move towards greener, safer vehicles.” CrushShield was developed by a collaborative team working in Exton, Penn., USA; Shonan,
Japan and Crépy-en-Valois, France.