The global automotive industry is rapidly moving toward electricity for propulsion of personal and commercial mobility. Designing and assembling batteries in house is a priority for many automakers, which brings a new level of complexity and workplace safety challenges to the industry. Lithium-ion batteries powering today’s electric vehicles (EVs) are posing new electrical, thermal, and chemical hazards to the workforce. Battery design standards under IEC, SAE, IEEE, UL, and UN focus on operational and shipping safety of lithium-ion batteries while leaving worker safety to administrative controls such as training, insulated tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE). This article intends to identify some of the hazards posed by these large batteries. There are no lockout/tagout methods available to disable the high voltage inside these batteries. The modular design of some batteries allows for segmentation to reduce the level of hazard, but the trend of cell-to-pack design is making battery segmentation within the energy box challenging. Product design controls are the highest form of hazard elimination in the hierarchy of ­controls, and this article will discuss some aspects of design that can address these hazards and lays the foundation for industry’s best practices and potential future safety requirements in this emerging technology area of battery production, service, and recycling. This article will also discuss some administrative controls where hazard elimination via design solution is not feasible.

In the field of power systems, the concept of infinity plays a crucial theoretical role, enabling the depiction of extreme limits as quantities approach very large values. This theoretical model simplifies complex issues and encourages innovative problem-solving strategies for engineers. This article delves into the diverse role of infinity as a theoretical construct within power systems, illustrating how this abstraction aligns with the practical application of engineering principles. The discussion covers topics, such as ground potential and infinite bus as reference points, the importance of infinity in power line analysis, the practical effects of short-circuits and open-circuits in power systems, and the continuity of state variables. By connecting theoretical and practical aspects, this article enhances the understanding of how infinity is utilized as a tool in electrical engineering, highlighting its importance in simplifying complex problems and advancing the design and analysis of power systems.