FUD Energy Efficient transport: Advanced components for electromobility

Electric vehicles are expensive compared with fossil fuel vehicles, and consumers are reluctant to invest in EV technology because of safety concerns and the limited range capabilities of EVs. All these three concerns are to be addressed by the research and development conducted in this project. The consortium will conduct research into Lithium Sulfur batteries (Li-S), which has up to 5 times higher theoretical specific energy than conventional lithium-ion battery chemistries. These cells also have a 100% available Depth-of-Discharge and cannot be damaged by over-charge, which makes the Li-S cells much safer than current Li-ion batteries. The consortium will also merge power electronic systems into a single unit in order to reduce cost, size and weight. This includes the battery management system, inverter, charger and grid filter. The project will also develop active balancing in the BMS in order to increase the balancing speed, thereby allow the use of inferior cells, older cells or replace single cells in a battery pack and thereby extend the efficient use of a battery pack and reduce the life time cost. The Li-S cells with the developed BMS will be demonstrated in the demonstration phase of the project on a working vehicle.