Swiss battery system manufacturer ecovolta is introducing a new safety concept in its lithium-ion batteries which has been proven to reduce the risk of battery fires and cell explosions in e-mobility applications.
Ecovolta employs cell junctions made of electrolytically nickel-plated cold strips which automatically disconnect faulty cells from the rest of the battery pack when the current rises. From Tuesday to Thursday next week, ecovolta will showcase the battery packs for the first time at the Energy Storage Europe exhibition, at booth D04 in hall 8b.
Cell junction serves as reliable fuse
In the case of mechanical damage to a battery pack, a high current initially flows through the affected region and the temperature rises. In conventional battery solutions the cell is affected directly, with its material expanding rapidly – a development which could lead to explosions and battery fires.
By contrast, with ecovolta battery packs the temperature rises locally at the cell junction in the event of mechanical damage. The junction then melts, separating the damaged cell from intact components. The rest of the pack remains functional – only its capacity falls as the capacity of the separated cell is lost, as indicated by comprehensive laboratory trials.
The new safety concept is incorporated in all ecovolta traction batteries and allows for capacities ranging from 10 Wh to several hundred kilowatt-hours, and voltages of 12-600 V, as well as any desired battery shape. The concept is also used in ecovolta’s evoTractionBattery. The standardized traction battery achieves energy densities of 200 Wh/kg without active cooling.
“This ecovolta concept offers e-mobility suppliers a battery solution that makes the highest safety standards economical even for small and mid-sized vehicle series,” said ecovolta chief technology officer Paul Hauser.
The concept was made possible by a license from H-Tech AG, based in Schaan, Liechtenstein, which ecovolta uses for production of its battery systems.
