Cell Guard

Name: Cell Guard
SKU: CGAXPXGXHXVX
Availability: InStock

Next generation CAN based battery health and energy storage sensor

Price range: £77.00 through £147.40 exc VAT

Accelerometer

Gas Detection

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SKU: CGAXPXGXHXVX Category: Environmental Sensors

Cell Guard is an innovative solution designed to enhance the safety resilience of battery packs and energy storage systems. Developed by Metis Engineering, this state-of-the-art CAN based product measures:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Absolute Pressure
Air Temperature
Absolute Air Water Content
Relative Humidity
Dew Point Temperature
Hydrogen (H₂) (optional extra)
Shock load and duration up to +/-24G (optional extra)

The unit features a low power mode in which it monitors the environment but does not transmit on CAN unless a pre-set threshold is reached at which point it reverts to normal operation. It also features a low side drive function pin capable of 500mA that can be triggered if a wake signal is generated.

Third Party Testing

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Sandia National Laboratories in the United States recently validated Cell Guard’s capability to detect thermal runaway in electric vehicles more quickly than other methods with VOC detection.

The 5-pin automotive Molex Nano-Fit power connector, small size and mass, configurable CAN bus speed and address along with the provided CAN dbc file, allows easy integration into almost any battery or energy storage system.

Additional Cell Guard Options

Hydrogen: Detection of hydrogen can be used as a later indicator, produced later in the cell venting sequence (as found by the third party testing) as a secondary check of thermal runaway. This is a great feature to have if existing levels of ambient VOCs are already high. In addition, hydrogen may be produced through electrolysis indicating damaging water ingress into the pack.

Accelerometer: Essential data that delivers crucial insights into battery health after an impact—whether during pack manufacture, transportation, or while in use on the road. Measuring not only impact magnitude but duration of sustained impact, it can send a message should pre-set thresholds be breached. Discover the advantages of incorporating the accelerometer into your version of Cell Guard here: A Breakthrough Solution to Prevent Unnecessary Scrapping of Electric Vehicles.

ISO Certified

The Cell Guard sensor has been rigorously tested to automotive standards which include: ISO7637-2 2011, ISO 16750- 2 2012 and ISO 16750-4 2010.

For seamless connectivity, Cell Guard works perfectly with the Nano Development Kit for rapid desktop analysis, or the Link Kit to connect multiple Cell Guard sensors on the same CAN bus.

Enhancing Energy Storage System Safety and Lifecycle Decisions with Cell Guard Technologies

As the global transition to electrification accelerates, battery safety, longevity, and data-driven decision-making have never been more critical. Our Cell Guard sensor is at the forefront of this evolution, offering a compact, intelligent solution for real-time monitoring across a range of battery-powered applications. Designed to work consistently with NMC, LFP, and LMFP chemistries, the ISO Automotive Standard certified Cell Guard sensor is helping engineers unlock a new level of control in Electric Vehicle (EV) platforms and stationary Energy Storage Systems (ESS) alike.

Cell Guard is engineered for seamless integration within a battery pack or energy storage container, specifically designed to be installed near the breather port, an area critical for monitoring internal atmosphere changes. It’s compact, robust form factor allows it to fit snugly inside the enclosure without disrupting existing pack architecture or airflow.

At the core of Cell Guard’s capabilities is its high-sensitivity to cell venting (also known as off-gassing). During thermal runaway events, battery cells release gases – mostly Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), before more severe outcomes like fire or explosion occur. Cell Guard detects these early warning signs in real time, offering a critical window for system shutdown or containment. This functionality is essential across all EV types, from eVTOL and electric boats to passenger cars, racing cars and commercial trucks and buses to micromobility platforms like e-bikes and e-scooters, where early intervention can prevent costly damage, reputational risk, or injury.

Key Features

However, what truly sets the Cell Guard sensor apart is it’s always-on battery health monitoring. Beyond venting, the Cell Guard unit continuously tracks key environmental and physical parameters including:

Moisture ingress, which can compromise insulation and lead to short circuits,

Dew point and air temperature, particularly relevant in liquid-cooled packs, where condensation could occur inside the housing,

Hydrogen presence, a byproduct in certain failure scenarios that signals dangerous conditions,

Shock loads, offering detailed insight into the mechanical stresses a battery pack has experienced.

This last feature is especially valuable in post-incident assessment. If an electric vehicle is involved in a collision, Cell Guard can provide a precise record of the G-forces and shock duration the battery pack endured. This information enables engineers to make informed decisions: whether the pack can remain in service, be repurposed for second-life applications, or should be safely decommissioned and sent for recycling.

Stationary Energy Storage

For the growing market in stationary battery systems, whether grid-scale, commercial, or residential Cell Guard’s comprehensive sensor suite provides continuous oversight without adding significant complexity or cost. Operators gain peace of mind knowing they can detect environmental risks early and monitor battery performance over time, especially in outdoor or variable-temperature installations.

The Cell Guard sensor is a compact unit, lightweight, and easy to integrate into both new and existing battery architectures thanks to its fully programable CAN speed and address. For OEMs and system designers, it offers a practical, data-rich approach to meeting stringent safety regulations, enhancing battery traceability, and maximising return on investment through smarter lifecycle management.

In an era where battery packs represent a substantial share of system cost and safety considerations, Our Cell Guard sensor provides a powerful, proactive tool ensuring batteries remain healthy, safe, and intelligently managed from cradle to grave.

Case study

Allye, a pioneering energy storage company, is enhancing the safety and efficiency of its second-life static Energy Storage System (ESS) by integrating Metis Engineering’s Cell Guard with Accelerometer. These systems repurpose EV batteries into a 320kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), offering significant cost reductions and a 60% decrease in embedded CO₂ emissions. To address the inherent uncertainties of second-life batteries, Allye conducts extensive testing to assess pack health and performance.

The Cell Guard sensor provides early detection of potential pack issues by monitoring environmental parameters such as VOCs, absolute pressure, relative humidity, and impacts. This integration allows Allye to proactively manage safety risks, ensuring reliable and sustainable energy storage solutions for various applications, including EV charging and grid support. Read the full case study.