A physical model to explain electrostatic charging in an automotive environment; correlation with experimental approach

Electrostatic shock is a very common feature in an automotive environment. Such a phenomenon may be detrimental for the embarked electronic devices and/or the passengers. The work presented in the following deals with this latter aspect and consists of the research of physical solutions able to avoid the human body voltage rise up and its associated discharge. This paper is focused on the determination of the cause of its appearance and on the development of an appropriate model able to predict the charging values versus the different characteristics of the materials used inside the car. The paper presents a model of the occupant charging during the exit from a car and its correlation with the measured values, in a real situation. Getting a better understanding of the individual´s static build up could allow us to find a reliable solution to avoid both static charge accumulation (and electrostatic voltage increase) on the human body and shock risk.