Electric vs. Gas: Which Vehicles are Safer? 

Navigating New Features, Functions, and Global Safety Requirements

Electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs/HEVs) frequently outperform internal combustion engine vehicles in safety ratings, driven by design advantages such as a low center of gravity, larger crumple zones, and integrated electronic speed controls. These features enhance crash energy management and vehicle stability.

However, the shift to electrification introduces new technical challenges, particularly in crashworthiness validation and post-crash safety. High-voltage systems pose risks to occupants and emergency responders, necessitating rigorous testing under FMVSS305 and similar global standards.

Why EVs Can Be Safer: 

• Lower center of gravity: Due to battery placement, reducing rollover risk.
• Larger crumple zones: No engine up front allows better energy absorption in frontal crashes.
• Advanced safety features: Many EVs come with the latest ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
• Remote speed control: Some EVs allow setting and monitoring top speeds remotely — ideal for teen drivers or fleet monitoring.
• Higher safety ratings: Several EVs (like the Tesla Model Y or Ford Mustang Mach-E) score top marks in IIHS and NHTSA crash tests.

Potential Risks with EVs: 

• High-voltage shock: Post-crash electrical isolation is critical to occupant and first-responder safety
• Fire risk: While rare, battery fires can be harder to extinguish than gasoline fires.
• Thermal runaway: Heat buildup can lead to explosions in severe impacts.
• Heavier weight: EVs tend to be heavier, which can increase injury risk to occupants in lighter vehicles during collisions.
• Unexpected acceleration: EVs can accelerate quickly, catching some drivers off guard, especially inexperienced drivers

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS305 focuses on post-crash safety for EVs. The standard mandates a minimum level of electrical isolation between the high-voltage system and the vehicle’s chassis. The goal is to isolate any electrolyte spillage from propulsion batteries to ensure occupants and first responders are protected from high-shock sources, especially following a crash.

Meeting New Testing Requirements
With new technology comes the need for new testing protocols and equipment. In response to customer requests,  DTS introduces the new FMVSS305 high-voltage recorder for testing EV and Hybrid new energy vehicles (NEVs). The DTS FMVSS305 allows for remote measurements, making it ideal for use with the 301 static rollover system.

FMVSS305 High-Voltage Recorder
The DTS FMVSS305 is a high-voltage isolation measurement system for electric and hybrid vehicle testing. It provides a safe and reliable way to capture battery and drive system voltages up to ±1,200-volts. The unit is designed to be used standalone or can be seamlessly integrated into TDAS or SLICE data acquisition systems via DataPRO Software. For more information, click Learn More.

The bottom line, based on all the data and safety testing, there’s no absolute winner between EVs and gas vehicles. Electric vehicles are generally as safe or safer than gas-powered vehicles, but as the fine print always says . . . it depends on the model and type of crash.

DTS Co-Founder Tim Kippen Inducted into Cal Poly Pomona Engineering Hall of Fame

Diversified Technical Systems (DTS) is proud to announce that co-founder Tim Kippen has been inducted into the Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor recognizes Tim’s exceptional contributions to the field of engineering and his outstanding professional achievements.

The induction ceremony, which included family, friends and many DTS employees, was co-emceed by fellow DTS co-founder and 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Mike Beckage. The evening was filled with inspiring stories from students and inductees, highlighting the impact of Cal Poly Pomona’s engineering program.

The connection between DTS and Cal Poly Pomona runs deep. Tim and Mike’s story began in a classroom at CPP, where they discovered a shared mindset that would shape the early culture of DTS. The university’s “learn by doing” philosophy, emphasizing hands-on learning, became a cornerstone of DTS’s collaborative environment.

DTS’s success over the last three decades has been significantly shaped by the contributions of many Cal Poly Pomona graduates. The DTS team continues to actively support CPP engineering students through mentoring events, DTS facility tours, training events, and a generous gift of DTS hardware to inspire ongoing student R&D and engineering projects.

Tim’s induction, alongside nine other distinguished alumni in the 2025 Hall of Fame class, celebrates his significant contributions to the engineering community and the success of DTS. His journey, rooted in the values of Cal Poly Pomona, serves as an example of how dedication and innovation can lead to remarkable achievements. Congratulations Tim on this well-deserved honor!

Streamlining Crash Testing: New Test Device Manages Over 800 High-Speed Data Channels

Crash testing plays a crucial role in advancing occupant and pedestrian safety worldwide. As part of that pursuit, modern crash tests now collect vast amounts of high-speed data, a trend on the rise for decades. Originally, most of the crash data collected directly supported U.S. and Global NCAP test requirements. Today, a significant amount of additional data is being collected to advance finite element modeling or crash simulations.

Collecting vast amounts of data requires more complex data acquisition solutions. DTS, a leader in data acquisition systems for dynamic testing, has developed the SLICE PRO DISTRIBUTOR to simplify this complex landscape. The new test device is a centralized hub that manages signal integration, communication, and power distribution for multiple crash test dummies and up to a remarkable 820 data channels in a single vehicle.

Managing hundreds of data channels during a crash test is a significant challenge. The SLICE PRO DISTRIBUTOR acts as a central nervous system for the test setup. Event and status signals from each connected system are isolated internally and then integrated to provide a single event and status signal for the entire system.

“With the increasing complexity of vehicle safety testing, DTS’s goal is to simplify testing. Whether it’s 8 channels or 800, it’s all about reliability and repeatability from the test setup to the final data download,” says Chad Ivan, automotive applications manager for DTS. “The SLICE PRO DISTRIBUTOR is a game-changer for automotive testing.”

Instead of managing multiple connections to a control PC, external switch, or wireless unit, all communication functions, diagnostics, system status monitoring, and data downloads are managed through a single connection. The SLICE PRO DISTRIBUTOR is compatible with a range of DTS products and can be easily integrated into existing test environments.

Key features of the SLICE PRO Distributor include:
• Compact, crashworthy enclosure
• Gigabit Ethernet communications protocol that enables all 8 ports to simultaneously download data without throttling
• Supports a mix of up to 820 channels of in-dummy and SLICE PRO DAS
• Higher primary input power range of 36-56 VDC
• The ability to support up to two POWER PRO battery units for redundant power backup

There are ongoing discussions that debate whether physical crash testing is needed with today’s sophisticated finite element models (FEMs). As long as it’s law and physical testing is required to validate and improve modeling, crash testing will continue. The vast amount of test data collected is also advancing new vehicle designs and improving future testing. The bottom line is that more data is a global win for safety.

DTS is a leading provider of data acquisition systems and sensors for automotive safety testing, aerospace, injury biomechanics, and other demanding applications. DTS is committed to providing innovative solutions that help its customers improve product safety and performance.

You’re Invited! Oct 22-23, 2024 in Novi, Michigan at the Automotive Testing Expo North America

JOIN US IN THE DTS INNOVATION ROOM | 2 DAYS OF FOOD, FUN & DTS UPDATES!
Hours: 9:30AM – 3:30PM
Location: Garnet Room, Suburban Collection Showplace
46100 Grand River Ave. Novi, MI 48374 at Automotive Testing Expo 

SPECIAL EVENTS!
Tuesday, October 22 | Lunch
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Wednesday, October 23 | Brunch
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

RSVP today and we’ll save a DTS SWAG bag for you!
Share this invite with friends and colleagues.
If you would like a private meeting with Team DTS – please RSVP to schedule.

DTS Booth #15008

Best Places to Work in Orange County 2024
Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. was recently named as one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Orange County. The awards program was created in 2009 and is a project of the Orange County Business Journal in partnership with Workforce Research Group.

This is the fifth consecutive year DTS has been recognized for this award. This is a reflection of the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering a positive, innovative, and supportive work culture. DTS is dedicated to providing its employees with a fun and engaging work environment and one that supports professional development and work-life balance.

“Rollin White, Head of DTS, has released the following statement: ‘DTS is proud to be selected as one of Orange County’s Best Places to Work for the fifth year in a row. This honor is a direct result of our incredible employees, who are the heart of what makes DTS special. While perks like free soda are great, it’s the dedicated people who choose to come to work at DTS every day that truly make the difference.’”

Diversified Technical Systems (DTS), headquartered in Seal Beach, California, was named as one of the Best Places to Work in Southern California by Best Companies Group. Best Companies Group is an independent research firm that specializes in identifying and recognizing the best places to work all over the world.

Rollin White, President of DTS, expressed his gratitude for this recognition, stating, “At DTS, we believe that our greatest asset is our people. DTS is honored to be recognized as one of Southern California’s Best Places to Work. This recognition reflects our commitment to teamwork, which means that everyone at DTS contributed to earning this award. Plus, it also supports our company values of designing innovative products that add value to society, fostering team spirit, personal growth, and creating a positive environment.”

Jaime Raul Zepeda, Executive Vice President of Best Companies Group, commended the high caliber of the selected companies. He remarked, “Each winner on this list has created an extraordinary work environment that attracts, retains, and motivates top talent. The quality of the companies in the 2023 Best Places to Work SoCal list is truly commendable, as they have shown a clear commitment to their employees’ satisfaction and development.”

About DTS: Diversified Technical Systems specializes in manufacturing miniature, rugged data acquisition systems and sensors for product and safety testing in extreme environments. DTS data recorders and sensors are used for testing in a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, injury biomechanics, sports, military and defense. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Seal Beach, California, DTS also has technical centers around the globe and is part of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE: VPG).

After 33+ years at DTS, Steve Pruitt, co-founder and Chief Sales & Business Development Officer, has retired. Steve, along with two other crash test engineers, Tim Kippen and Mike Beckage, began DTS in 1990 in an office above a garage. Today DTS is a successful global company with headquarters in Seal Beach, California and 7 technical centers around the world.

In his parting email Steve said,

“I have enjoyed working with you all over many years of crash, blast, and other testing – WorldSID, WIAMan, dosimeters and many other product developments. This is truly a great profession and industry. I can honestly say that everyone I have worked with has been dedicated to helping to make the world safer for us humans, no matter what kind of vehicle or sport we subject ourselves to. I have helped test everything from roller coasters and Olympic bobsleds, to ejection seats and stunt men to athletes and race cars to tanks to rockets and many more I can’t remember. Truly the best job ever!”

Steve, thank you for helping to create such a phenomenal company that advances human safety. You will be greatly missed, but your legacy lives on!

DTS specializes in miniature data acquisition solutions and portable data logger solutions for product development, performance validation and safety testing. DTS DAQ solutions are engineered for extreme test environments and are reliable in even the most challenging applications.

For a fourth consecutive year Diversified Technical Systems (DTS), headquartered in Seal Beach, California, was named as one of the Best Places to Work in Orange County. The awards program was created in 2009 and is a project of the Orange County Business Journal and Best Companies Group.

“DTS is honored to be recognized by our employees as one of Orange County’s Best Places to Work. The annual survey from the Orange County Business Journal recognizes the great team we have at DTS,” says Rollin White, Head of DTS. White credits a combination of great employees, great teams, and interesting projects that all make DTS one of the best places to work. “We’re all very proud because this is the fourth consecutive year DTS has been recognized as a top company,” adds White.

One of the survey participants said it best, ‘Wonderful people and great teams who enjoy their work and work-life balance. Plus working on exciting industrial-grade and high-quality products that directly help improve safety in our daily lives.’

DTS is ranked in the mid-sized company category. The awards program works to identify and honor the best places of employment in Orange County, California, benefiting the county’s economy, its workforce, and businesses. The two-part application process includes evaluating each employer’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics, which is worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part is an extensive employee survey which measures the employee experience and is worth 75% of the score.

About DTS: Diversified Technical Systems specializes in manufacturing miniature, rugged data acquisition systems and sensors for product and safety testing in extreme environments. DTS data recorders and sensors are used for testing in a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, injury biomechanics, sports, military and defense. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Seal Beach, California, DTS also has technical centers around the globe and is part of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE: VPG).

Congratulations Tim on your retirement from DTS after more than three decades of vision, passion, dedication and hard work! You will be greatly missed. 

Tim, along with Mike Beckage and Steve Pruitt, co-founded DTS in 1990. From humble beginnings working out of an office above a garage, the 3 engineers developed DTS into a global success. Today DTS headquarters is based in Seal Beach, California, and has 7 technical centers around the world.

Tim officially retired in December 2022, but was presented his retirement award at the DTS annual meeting earlier this year so the entire company could be present. Mike Beckage, CTO and Steve Pruitt, Chief Business & Sales Officer, presented the plaque to Tim which says, “Thank you for building a company that has made a real difference in the lives of all of us at DTS and has no doubt saved many lives through product innovation in occupant safety.” 

Mike shared, “Thanks, Tim. I was adding up the years – 38 years together, starting with Cal Poly Pomona. I just want to add, the first 12 years at DTS could have been terrible because it could have gone south but we stuck with it. Perseverance, like I always tell people.” Mike added, “These guys paid supreme attention to detail and it worked. So we are all here today because we were able to hang together and Tim, I really appreciate your work and your friendship.”

 Tim and Mike’s friendship first began in an engineering class at Cal Poly Pomona. Mike recommended Tim for a job at Mobility Systems, as a crash test engineer, and it was there that they also Steve.

 “Testing and crashing cars sounded like a really good thing,” Kippen commented in an interview for the Cal Poly Bronco magazine. “That’s how I fell into it. It’s the most fun thing in the world to set up a really big physics experiment, think about how something is going to wreck and then just do it. We thought the industry was underserved, and that’s how we moved forward,” Tim said.

 The rest, as they say, is history.

 DTS manufactures miniature, rugged DAQ, sensors and portable data logger solutions for a variety of applications including product development, performance validation and safety testing.