A collaborative project involving the University of Wolverhampton focusing on producing a lightweight, fire-safe battery enclosure for zero emission trucks, has been given the green light by Innovate UK.
A collaborative project involving the University of Wolverhampton focusing on producing a lightweight, fire-safe battery enclosure for zero emission trucks, has been given the green light by Innovate UK.
The partnership has secured £183,000 of funding from the Department for Transport under a scheme aimed at boosting the UK’s transition to zero emission road freight. The nine-month project will be driven by Composites Evolution Ltd in collaboration with the University’s School of Engineering, MEP Technologies Ltd and Carr Reinforcements Ltd, and aims to develop a new high-temperature composite material suitable for large battery enclosures for electric freight vehicles.
Brendon Weager, Technical Director at Composites Evolution Ltd, said: “Freight accounts for around 20% of road vehicle emissions so there is substantial interest in switching to zero-emission trucks to help meet the UK’s target of net zero carbon by 2050. However, these trucks will need large, heavy batteries to provide sufficient range.
“Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) present a fire hazard in the event of a thermal runaway caused, for example, by overheating, short-circuits, impacts or collisions. Therefore, electric trucks with large LIBs present a potential risk of severe fire and injury, particularly when in urban areas, and/or carrying hazardous cargo.
“Current lightweight solutions struggle to withstand the high temperatures of such fires. This project will develop a new lightweight high-temperature composite material suitable for large battery enclosures. It will also prototype a battery module for an electric/hybrid truck with the aim being to develop a pack that is significantly lighter than current solutions whilst remaining fire-safe.”
Dr Klaudio Bari, Principal Lecturer in Composite Engineering in the University’s School of Engineering, said: “The novel battery module design will incorporate new lightweight, high-power cells, embedded cooling tubes and electronics, and high C-rate capability, making it ideally suited for large battery systems in electric delivery trucks or hybrid powertrain systems.
“The composite will be impact resistant (protecting battery cells from damage), electrically insulating (reducing the risk of electric shock from these large, high voltage battery packs), vibration absorbing (reducing the risk of damage to electronics), corrosion-resistant and have low embodied CO2.
“The University has investigated a range of candidate materials for truck battery boxes and has identified a novel composite with a 750°C service temperature.”
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For more information contact the Corporate Communications Team 01902 322736/518647 or out of office hours on 07973 335112 or email: comms@wlv.ac.uk.
Picture shows the composite laboratory in the School of Engineering at the University’s Telford Innovation Campus, Priorslee.
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