In the event of an impact, which term describes the energy stored in capacitors or the battery?

• A. Energized
• B. Released
• C. Stranded
• D. Contained

Answer: (C)

When an impact happens, energy that powers the vehicle’s components isn’t instantly gone. The capacitors and high‑voltage battery can still hold a charge long after the system is de‑energized. This energy is present but not actively flowing, and it’s contained inside the electrical hardware until it’s deliberately discharged. That situation is described as stranded energy: energy that remains trapped inside the components and could release suddenly if a path to discharge is created or if the enclosure is damaged. This is why safety procedures treat these parts as hazardous stored energy and require proper isolation and controlled discharge before any work.

Energetic states like energized or released aren’t accurate here because the system isn’t actively delivering power, and the energy hasn’t already been discharged. Contained is close, but stranded emphasizes that the energy is trapped within the components after the impact and needs safe handling to prevent unexpected discharge.