Advanced Battery Management for Hybrid Vehicles
Critical Need:
Today's electric vehicle batteries are expensive and prone to unexpected failure. Batteries are complex systems, and developing techniques to cost-effectively monitor and manage important performance measures while predicting battery cell degradation and failure remains a key technological challenge. There is a critical need for breakthrough technologies that can be practically deployed for superior management of both electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
Project Innovation + Advantages:
Eaton is developing advanced battery and vehicle systems models that will enable fast, accurate estimation of battery health and remaining life. The batteries used in hybrid vehicles are highly complex and require advanced management systems to maximize their performance. Eaton's battery models will be coupled with hybrid powertrain control and power management systems of the vehicle enabling a broader, more comprehensive vehicle management system for better optimization of battery life and fuel economy. Their design would reduce the sticker price of commercial hybrid vehicles, making them cost-competitive with non-hybrid vehicles.
Potential Impact:
If successful, Eaton's advanced battery management system would reduce system errors and achieve a 50% reduction in battery size without significantly impacting the battery lifetime or hybrid vehicle performance.
Security:
Advances in energy storage management could reduce the cost and increase the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage technologies, which in turn would reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Environment:
Improving the reliability and safety of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage facilities would enable more widespread use of these technologies, resulting in a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Economy:
Enabling alternatives to conventional sources of energy could insulate consumers, businesses, and utilities from unexpected price swings.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Patrick McGrath
Project Contact:
Dr. Chinmaya Patil
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
chinmayapatil@eaton.com
Partners
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Related Projects
Release Date:
08/12/2012