TSB in lightweight battery investment

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has awarded more than £1.3m of funding to a consortium led by battery manufacturer Axeon, which plans to develop a new lightweight battery for use in electric cars over the next 22 months.
 
The battery, which will use a new lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese-oxide (NCM) cell chemistry that sports a higher energy density than the lithium-iron-phosphate cells currently in use, will provide faster charging times and facilitate the development of a vehicle that can travel farther. 

The use of such cells should also reduce the size, volume and weight of the battery pack system, which should have a large impact on the range and power-to-weight ratio.

Aside from Axeon, other members of the consortium include Ricardo, a provider of technology and engineering solutions to the automotive and transport industries, and Allied Vehicles, a niche vehicle manufacturer.

For its part, Ricardo is to develop the battery management system architecture and application software for the new system. The new cell chemistry will require enhancement and re-calibration of the existing Ricardo battery management software including state of charge balance between cells. The expected benefits will be increased range and longer battery pack life.