Automotive Engineering - August 2023 - 23

BATTERY MATERIALS FEATURE
b&m-KL PLUG®
EVage's FR8 and its
Skateboard Platform.
temperature effects on cycle life can be
decoupled. A temperature-specific battery
would not have to accommodate
wide temperature fluctuations and a
fleet operator might, under certain situations,
swap batteries out and maintain
two sets of batteries, despite operational
complexity and significant overhead.
Conversely, in locations where the
temperature is reasonably constant
throughout the year, the battery chemistry
can be optimized for that location
because fleets, unlike most personal
vehicles, may have well-defined geographic
operation.
Or different vehicles in the fleet may
have different batteries if they operate in
different climates. In other words, because
of their tighter operating domain
and closely regulated maintenance routines,
fleet vehicles may present an opportunity
to optimize battery selection
rather than be constrained to using the
same batteries as personal vehicles.
Moreover, the well-defined daily usage
patterns and charging infrastructure availability
could enable lower energy density,
less-expensive battery chemistries.
Consider EVage, an Indian EV startup
developing and manufacturing commercial
electric trucks and buses in microAUTOMOTIVE
ENGINEERING
factories. It selected Toshiba's lithium
titanate oxide (LTO) batteries over LFP
and NMC chemistries because it offered
the lowest-cost solution despite having a
higher initial cost per kWh. This was possible
because the battery needed to
store only 15 kWh, sufficient for 50-km
(31-mile) range. Fast-charging twice during
the day and slow charging overnight
could enable the vehicle to meet daily
driving needs, but requires that the battery
can be cycled 10,000 times while
operating safely in a year-round hot climate.
This combination of requirements
(fast charging, long cycle life, safe performance
at high ambient temperatures
and well-defined charging protocols) led
to a small LTO battery providing the lowest-cost
solution with highest vehicle
efficiency and payload capability.
An emerging battery chemistry that
can reduce dependence not only on
nickel and cobalt but also on lithium,
whose availability may even be the
most challenged, is the sodium-ion battery.
This uses widely available, less expensive
materials and can use similar
production processes as lithium-ion
batteries. Contemporary Amperex
Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) - currently
the world's largest battery manufacturer
August 2023 23
Smart alternative to
expanders, screw plugs
and press-fit balls
How to close and seal
lubrication and cooling
circuits effectively?
The one-piece system
called KL PLUG®
reduces
costs and weight while
significantly increasing the
level of automation.
Confident with liquids
and gases
Highly resistant to pressure
and temperature, the
b&m-KL PLUG®
can be
flexibly adapted to your
requirements.
EVAGE
http://info.hotims.com/84496-708
Automotive Engineering - August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - August 2023
