Overcharging Testing

Overcharge testing evaluates battery response when electrical limits are exceeded. In the EVx Accelerating Rate Calorimeter, testing is performed under adiabatic conditions so that all heat generated by electrical fault reactions is captured directly by the calorimeter.

During an overcharge test, the battery undergoes charging at a controlled current while voltage, temperature (exotherm), and pressure (for closed tests) are monitored as the voltage rises beyond the rated limit. This simulates real-world failure scenarios such as charger malfunction or battery management system failure. As overcharge progresses, internal reactions accelerate, often leading to increased resistance, gas generation, and rapid exothermic behavior.

Instrument

Thermal Hazard Technology EVx ARC^®

The EVx Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC^®) is a specialized safety testing device used to study the thermal runaway behavior of large-format electric vehicle (EV) batteries, modules, and small packs. It simulates a self-heating scenario by raising the temperature of a battery until it starts to self-heat, then operates in a near-adiabatic mode to accelerate the reaction and collect data on temperature and pressure rise.

Sample Preparation

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