High Voltage Safety

High Voltage Safety The HV battery pack powers the high voltage electrical system with DC electricity. Positive and negative high voltage power cables are routed from the battery pack, under the vehicle floor pan, to the inverter/converter. The inverter/converter contains a circuit that boosts the HV battery voltage from 201 to 500-Volts DC. The inverter creates 3-phase AC to power the motors in the engine compartment. Sets of 3 power cables are routed from the inverter to each high voltage motor (electric motor, electric generator, and A/C compressor). Occupants in the vehicle and emergency responders are separated from high voltage electricity by the following systems:

High Voltage Safety System
- A high voltage fuse "1" provides short circuit protection in the HV battery pack.

- Positive and negative high voltage power cables "2" connected to the HV battery pack are controlled by 12-Volt normally open relays "3". When the vehicle is shut off, the relays stop electricity flow from the HV battery pack.

WARNING:
Power remains in the high voltage electrical system for 5 minutes after the HV battery pack is shut off.
Never touch, cut, or open any orange high voltage power cable or high voltage component.

- Both positive and negative power cables "2" are isolated from the metal chassis, so there is no possibility of shock by touching the metal chassis.

- A ground fault monitor "4" continuously monitors for high voltage leakage to the metal chassis while the vehicle is running. If a malfunction is detected, the vehicle computer "5" will illuminate the master warning light in the instrument cluster and the hybrid warning light in the LCD display.

- The HV battery pack relays will automatically open to stop electricity flow in a collision sufficient to activate the SRS airbags.