Pyrotechnic High Voltage Battery Disconnect

An automatic battery disconnect system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

• a high voltage (HV) energy storage system;
• a vehicle electrical system corresponding to said electric vehicle and comprising a plurality of vehicle subsystems, said plurality of vehicle subsystems comprising an electric vehicle drive system;
• at least one electrical contactor, wherein said at least one electrical contactor has a first closed state and a second open state, wherein when said at least one electrical contactor is in said first closed state said HV energy storage system is electrically connected to said vehicle electrical system, and wherein when said at least one electrical contactor is in said second open state said HV energy storage system is not electrically connected to said vehicle electrical system;
• a supplemental restraint system, wherein said supplemental restraint system monitors collision data from a plurality of vehicle impact sensors and outputs a supplemental restraint activation signal in response to said monitored collision data;
• and
• a pyrotechnic switch configured to receive said supplemental restraint activation signal from said supplemental restraint system, wherein said pyrotechnic switch has a pre-activated first state and an activated second state, wherein said pyrotechnic switch changes from said pre-activated first state to said activated second state upon receipt of said supplemental restraint activation signal from said supplemental restraint system, wherein said pyrotechnic switch is not reversible from said activated second state to said pre-activated first state, wherein in said pre-activated first state said pyrotechnic switch provides a conductive path that allows said HV energy storage system to be electrically connected to said vehicle electrical system, and wherein in said activated second state said pyrotechnic switch severs said conductive path and prevents said HV energy storage system from being electrically connected to said vehicle electrical system.