Grant: Alliance Grants

Transport electrification has the potential to reduce environmental pollution. Canada, along with most major countries, has committed to achieving emission-free transportation in the near future. Battery packs are one of the crucial parts of transport electrification and significant work remains to be done in order to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of electric vehicle battery packs. Battery packs need to be maintained at a favorable temperature range for optimal performance and battery thermal management remains an active research topic. In addition to this, battery reuse technologies need to be developed to satisfy the aftermarket in the electric vehicle industry. First, this project will develop robust approaches to battery thermal modeling such that efficient battery thermal management solutions can be developed. Particularly, equivalent circuit modeling approaches will be combined with thermal propagation modeling in order to predict the temperature at the surface of the battery under realistic conditions. Second, this project will develop an approach to assess individual modules of a used battery pack to rate them based on their state of health. This approach can be utilized to remanufacture replacement battery packs as a cost-effective solution to buying new batteries for used vehicles. Finally, this project will develop and demonstrate a new approach to battery management in the form of connected service. This approach aims to help to proliferate battery technology in order to drive down costs and to stir innovation. Direct outcomes of the proposed research activities are designed to assist two Canadian companies to expand their operation in Canada. Additional outcomes of the proposed research will help to enhance Canadian leadership and innovation in battery management systems.