Can a Cloud-Based Platform Speed Up EV Battery Pack Design?

Choosing the correct battery cell is critical. Different applications require specific battery chemistries and characteristics to optimize performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness. However, the options and possible customizations make the task difficult. Fragmented data and long testing cycles complicate the process.

To speed up and simplify battery selection, About:Energy has created the Voltt, a web-based platform and toolset that enables engineers to virtually test and compare battery cells under real-world conditions. About:Energy claims the platform could accelerate battery selection by six months.

The Voltt evaluation platform provides simulations of battery performance. Adapted from images used courtesy of About:Energy and Canva

Cell Selection in the Development Process

Choosing the right cell chemistry for a specific application depends on the device’s intended use. For example, power cells are needed in applications such as power tools that require short-duration cycles and high currents. On the other hand, electric vehicles and e-bikes require energy cells with a high-power output, fast discharge rates, and long duration cycles to ensure that the battery can provide a strong acceleration and sustained energy release for the vehicle.

Engineers must choose the specific cell chemistry (lithium iron phosphate, nickel manganese oxide, lithium-ion, etc.) and cell type (pouch, prismatic, cylindrical) to provide the desired balance of energy density, power density, cycle life, safety, self-discharge rate, and cost for the intended application.

Cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch battery cells. Image used courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Often, they must make some trade-off between energy and power density or discharge rates and cycle life. These decisions must be made early in the development cycle.

Cell Selection and Product Economics

Cell selection also has a major effect on an application’s economic feasibility. Prolonged research and evaluation stages will drive up the development costs.

For some applications, the cell chosen can influence the costs. This is often the case for the aerospace industry, where every kilogram of battery weight impacts the aircraft's range, safety, and cost. In this scenario, the battery cell choice directly affects costs and technological performance.

About:Energy’s Voltt platform aims to provide engineers with relevant data to eliminate the need to perform multiple, costly trial-and-error when selecting the right battery cell chemistry for their application. The platform focuses on the technical aspects (battery performance, longevity, safety) and the economic factors.

The Voltt Platform and the Cell Evaluation Cycle

The Voltt is a standalone platform that provides a dedicated toolset to help engineers make informed decisions at the beginning of the cell selection cycle, eliminating physical and trial-and-error testing. Designers can choose the optimal battery cell before prototyping begins.

Using the Voltt, engineers can model, test, and compare cells virtually under real-world cycling conditions, using About: Energy’s extensive data library. The platform’s data comes from extensive in-house testing of over 30 high-performance cells for various high-technology applications, such as drones, aviation, space, and motorsports. The platform offers an all-in-one solution that doesn’t require external software.

An example of Voltt’s thermal modeling. Image used courtesy of About:Energy

About:Energy claims the platform can hasten battery development programs from months to weeks. The company also states that Voltt can assist EV designers in selecting battery cells that deliver better range, lifetime, cost, and charging performance. Designers can run custom drive cycles and mission profiles to ensure the batteries used in the vehicles have real-world performance.

About:Energy is scaling the platform to enable wider applications and provide tailored data and modeling services for manufacturers.