The growing trend in electrification is presenting engineers with challenges from EMI. Government initiatives for alternatives to the internal combustion engine are driving a boost in the electrification of vehicles. By design, the electric vehicle represents a large amount of electrical content confined to a space. The battery in an electric vehicle is one potential source of EMI. The all-electric vehicle has electromagnetic fields between the two battery packs (traction and auxiliary), the DC/DC converter, and other system components. Other types of electric vehicles — hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric — have an auxiliary battery, making them EMI susceptible as well. When considering EMI shielding for electric vehicles, the engineer must also keep in mind the heat and flammability associated with the battery. As with an increasing number of non-electric vehicles, electric vehicles may house navigation systems and safety applications, such as advanced driver assistance systems, that also rely on uninterrupted RF signals, representing additional areas for EMI.

From a design engineering perspective, EMI shielding should be considered at all levels — from the enclosure to the module to the PCB. A Faraday cage, or a protective structure that prevents electromagnetic radiation from entering or exiting an area, is an important component in EMI shielding at these different levels.