Feasibility study of structural batteries for electrical vehicles

Abstract

The recent growth in the electric vehicle industry and the fast development of electrical vehicle transportation lead the investigation to new technologies as structural batteries for the electrical vehicle industry. To fulfil the emission agreements, the electric vehicle becomes a promising technology, reducing the emission and CO2 footprint. However, the relatively low specific energy of this actual lithium-ion technology results in an increase of the vehicle weight. By a combination of a high specific stiffness and energy-storage capabilities within a multifunctional material, the structural power technology, undertakes the duty to bring a solution for this problem. So, this technology endorses weight savings for future vehicle models. In this current study the feasibility analysis was driven to verify the potential of structural power technology. The energy available in the three structural batteries connected in series is analysed. The voltage imbalance between cells was analysed and a technology to minimize this problem was evaluated. The strategy to overcome the cell imbalance was selected and the energy efficiency provided by the battery managements system (BMS). The impact of the selected BMS was assessed in a comparative study between two different BMS technologies. Target energy losses and efficiencies were calculated for both passive and active BMS methods. Significant benefits with an active BMS technology are revelled for structural batteries composites.