Requirements for the application of ECUs in e-mobility originally qualified for gasoline cars

To answer this question we start with a comparison of mission profiles of electrical cars and combustion engine cars. Based on the mission profiles we show the different requirements on the electronics robustness and use time. Afterwards we investigate the qualification process of an exemplary ECU from a combustion engine car and identify differences in comparison to the hybrid and fully electrical variant. As an example, a measurement of temperatures in a car driven under reasonably realistic conditions indicates the influence of the combustion engine on the thermal behaviour of the electronics as a key driver for failures. We provide a generic procedure that can be used for the design of future ECUs and compare it with expected temperature distributions in electric cars. Based on our results recommendations for the applicability of the use of existing ECUs in electric cars are discussed.