Development of a High Performance DC Fuse for Electric Vehicle Application

This paper reports the production process and the features of a newly developed high-performance DC electric fuse to be used for high voltage, high energy system applications, such as electric vehicles, factory inverter circuits, fuel cell systems. The voltage of power circuits used in electric vehicles has increased to 500 V or more. This shift to higher voltages is done to reduce current, harness weight and improve motor-controller’s efficiency. The fuses that protect these circuits must shut out DC arcs, yet their performance needs improving. This paper reports the performance of a new fuse formed by a thin film of Titanium Hydride on copper film. This new fuse has shown great potential in protecting high voltage circuits of future electric vehicles as well as hybrid electric vehicles, and other high voltage DC electric power devices.