Battery and battery management in electric vehicles

Project leader: Miguel Dhaens

People were already building electric vehicles in the first half of the 19th century. Up until 1900, all electric vehicles were even faster than internal combustion vehicles. Today, for environmental reasons, electrical power is making a comeback. The availability of sustainable, reliable and cost-effective energy storage, in batteries for example, is crucial to the development and acceptance of vehicle electrification. This project is studying the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles. There is a special focus on the battery management system.

The first step in this project is to define the demands a vehicle places on the battery system. Market research into the available  technology is already in its final stage. Based on the data gathered, the first set of battery cells have already been bought. Tests with these cells will begin shortly. The basic structure of the battery pack has already been defined as well. Details will be provided in the coming months.