Structural Battery Composites in Electric Vehicle Design

Abstract

Multi-functional materials is the new venture for the automotive industry in terms of light-weighting. However, due to the infancy of this technology the adoption of these materials still has to be evaluated. A holistic design must be adopted to effectively utilise the multi-functional capabilities of the material unlike current design methodologies. Currently, the structural and electrical requirements for an electric vehicle are outlined and evaluated individually. In this research, a framework for evaluating the feasibility on a holistic level is built. The feasibility is based on the total driving range of the vehicle as well as the ability to contribute to the structural integrity of a vehicle.