Australian scientists at the University of Melbourne have made a significant leap forward in energy storage technology by developing and testing the world’s first proof-of-concept quantum battery.
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University of Michigan engineers developed a modified manufacturing process for electric vehicle batteries—using a stabilizing electrode coating and microscale channels—that could enable high ranges and fast charging in cold weather, solving problems that are turning potential EV buyers away.
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The UK Battery Industrialization Center, United Kingdom, opened its new upgraded and extended Battery Development Laboratory, greatly increased the facility’s capabilities in key areas of battery materials characterization, cell analysis, and forensic activities.
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Plasmatreat Gmbh, Germany, presents plasma as a pretreatment method in the manufacture of fuel cells.
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Researchers at Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash., used artificial intelligence to identify 23 promising battery materials from more than 32 million candidates in just 80 hours, creating a working prototype that could significantly reduce lithium use and advance sustainable energy storage solutions.
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inTEST Corporation, Mt. Laurel, N. J., launched the Acculogic patent-pending hover sense non-contact technology for electric vehicle battery testing, representing a significant leap forward in validating the quality and reliability of EV battery interconnects.
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Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., developed microcapacitors with ultrahigh energy and power density, paving the way for on-chip energy storage in electronic devices.
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To address the needs of the rapidly growing battery market, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass., introduced the Thermo Scientific LInspector Edge In-line Mass Profilometer, which delivers full-width electrode mass loading measurement and provides battery manufacturers with the data needed to make better, safer batteries, more efficiently.
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Responding to the need for better insulating coatings on prismatic battery cells, Coatmaster AG, Switzerland, has developed the Coatmaster 3D noncontact coating thickness measurement system.
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Candace Chan, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., is working on two projects to help alleviate problems in applications that use lithium-ion batteries, such as electric vehicles.
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A research team led by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., found that by ditching toxic solvents, a new dry-coating process could make batteries more sustainable and cut manufacturing costs by 15% and energy use by 47%. It could also be faster-charging than today’s electrodes.
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Researchers from Australia and China are working to develop the world’s first safe and efficient non-toxic aqueous aluminum radical battery.
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Intertek, England, a leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, unveiled its new Battery Xcellence Center in Mestre, Italy. Featuring the latest technologies for battery and energy storage systems testing, paired with unrivalled industry expertise, this new center of excellence will meet industry’s increasing need for fast and reliable testing, certification, and assurance services.
The 500 sqm facility is equipped with state-of-the-art battery cyclers, climatic and salt spray chambers, vibration plans, and mechanical testing equipment as well as two ATEX certified anti-fire containers and a dedicated altitude test chamber, enabling it to meet testing needs for transportation and storage safety, functional safety, and performance for a wide range of cells and battery packs.
As one of the world’s fastest growing industry sectors, the battery market is estimated to reach €135 billion globally and €35 billion in the EU by 2030. A pioneer in this space with specialist battery capabilities strategically located in the USA, China, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, and Europe, Intertek is working at the forefront of the industry, helping its customers to shape the future of energy storage and mobility.
This new state-of-the-art facility in Italy complements Intertek’s existing European battery centers of excellence in the Nordics, UK, and Germany, allowing the company to bring its expertise from more mature battery markets to Italy and the wider South Europe region. The Italian team will be supporting businesses across a range of sectors, including automotive, transportation, energy, and consumer goods, to successfully take their products from initial design phases through to compliance evaluation and global market access.
At the official opening of the Mestre Battery Xcellence Centre, André Lacroix, Chief Executive Officer of Intertek, said: “Sustainability is the movement of our time, and we at Intertek are pioneering the global Quality Assurance industry to help our clients on their sustainability journeys. On the road to Net Zero, we know energy storage is more critical than ever, and with the electrification of society moving at pace we are continuously investing in the future of electrification. This new state-of-the-art-facility enables our customers in this exciting region to benefit from our cutting-edge technology and industry-leading experts, helping them navigate the rapidly evolving regulatory environment for batteries and battery-operated products.”
Arianna Fogar, General Manager for Italy’s Electrical business, said: “Italy is the second largest market in the EU for domestic energy storage systems, as well as a key hub for the European automotive supply chain. We are delighted to be able to meet the industry’s need for local assurance, testing and certification services in this dynamic region with the opening of our pioneering battery and energy storage laboratory.”
As the energy density of battery packs for vehicles and grid energy storage increases, how can we make high-density energy systems less hazardous and more reliable? That’s the question explored by scientists at Exponent Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.
Their new technical paper, “Understanding the Fundamental Mechanisms of Battery Thermal Runaway Propagation and Mitigation” published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, explains how severe thermal runaway scenarios can occur and outlines the tenets of successful mitigation to reduce these hazards.
Thermal runaway events often begin with the failure of a single battery cell or group of cells, cascading to other neighboring cells, and increasing in severity as the stored energy of the battery pack is released. To reduce the likelihood and severity of these scenarios, the scientists discuss design strategies that can impede propagation of thermal runaway events between cells.
To implement these design strategies and moderation measures, the authors suggest that design engineers first develop a deep understanding of the mechanisms that drive battery thermal runaway propagation. To start, the authors outline a number of the factors that drive many cell failures and runaway events such as acute exposure of a cell to high temperatures, mechanical abuse, and flaws in the construction of either individual cells or the battery pack.
The paper then discusses the mechanisms by which thermal runaway propagation can occur between cells and provides details on the fundamentals of these methods. In addition, the authors provide an overview of potential mitigation approaches to prevent thermal runaway propagation that are currently used in industry and commentary on pathways for developing an effective protection strategy.
For more information:
Exponent, Inc.
Testing the longevity of new electric vehicle battery designs could be four times faster with a streamlined approach, researchers at the University of Michigan have shown.
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