Fri, 15 October, 2021
TWI is working as part of a new collaborative project to solve concerns related to the range, cost, reliability and charging times of batteries for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.
The ‘ALBATROSS’ project (‘Advanced Light-weight BATteRy systems Optimized for fast charging, Safety, and Second-life applications’) aims to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) market with a new generation of battery systems to help maximise the take-up of these vehicles.
TWI is joining a pan-European EU consortium of 21 world leading organisations from 10 countries in this project. Led by project coordinator, Yesilova, the consortium includes parts of the global Fiat-Chrysler, Ford and Mercedes-Benz groups, along with European SMEs.
Together, the consortium will develop an integrated approach based on innovative battery technologies and lightweight designs. Innovative cooling technologies will deliver lower pack temperatures during operation and charging, while disassembly, recycling and reuse will be important factors in the eco-design approach.
Using a BMW i3 passenger vehicle as the basis for the project’s developments, ALBATROSS is targeting a Peak Energy Density>200Wh/kg, a driving range increased to 480km, and a 25% reduction in charging time.
The system will include remote sensing and control for maintenance and troubleshooting to ensure safety, and will be validated on-vehicle under real world, extreme environmental conditions.
TWI’s role in the project will involve our expertise in welding and joining approaches for battery cells and trays, conducting joining trials and evaluating joint properties in line with requirements and standards. TWI will also advise on issues related to joint design, fixturing, and process monitoring for quality assurance, before developing welding procedure specifications and helping to demonstrate feasibility for post-project high-volume automotive production.
We will bring you more updates on this innovative work as the ALBATROSS project develops.
The ALBATROSS project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 963580