SwRI Expands EV Battery Research with Launch of EVESE-II Consortium

SwRI Expands EV Battery Research with Launch of EVESE-II Consortium
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 13, 2024

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has initiated the next phase of its electric vehicle (EV) battery research with the launch of the Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation-II (EVESE-II) consortium. Building on over ten years of SwRI-led precompetitive research, this new phase will continue to explore the performance and safety of energy storage systems, with participation from various sectors of the mobility industry.

"We are proud to serve the EV industry by bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and battery designers and developers with materials scientists to address a variety of challenges," said Dr. Andre Swarts, a staff engineer in SwRI's Automotive Propulsion Systems Department.

On August 15, the consortium will hold a kickoff meeting to introduce potential members to the EVESE-II research initiatives and SwRI's broader efforts in electrified powertrain development. Interested parties can register for free virtual or in-person attendance at SwRI in San Antonio through the link: https://evese.swri.org.

Continuing the research initiated in the first phase of EVESE, EVESE-II will expand its focus to include battery module and pack research. Dr. Swarts emphasized, "Cell research will remain at the heart of the program with a focus on test repeatability, cell aging and fast charging research as well as exploring emerging cell chemistries with increased energy capacities."

The consortium will conduct performance and abuse testing at various scales to gather essential data aimed at improving thermal management and safety. One key area of research is immersion cooling, a method that involves submerging battery cells or packs in a dielectric fluid for more efficient heat dissipation compared to traditional air-cooling techniques.

"The emphasis on immersion cooling came out of past EVESE work, which underscored its ability to enhance thermal management and mitigate thermal runaway," said Dr. Swapnil Salvi, a research engineer in SwRI's Automotive Propulsion Systems Department. "SwRI has developed a substantial portfolio of test capabilities over the past few years to support these research activities." More details can be found on Battery Immersion Cooling Testing and Research. Additionally, EVESE-II will investigate advancements in charging technology, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems, and in-situ battery health diagnostics, all supported by advanced modeling and simulation tools.

Members of the consortium will have the opportunity to influence the research agenda by selecting from proposed topics or suggesting new ones, with the final scope of work determined collaboratively. Members will receive comprehensive data from the consortium, protected by confidentiality agreements, and will benefit from regular reports, meetings, and access to SwRI's research resources. This includes royalty-free licenses to any patents resulting from consortium activities.

SwRI hosts several consortia focused on advancing a range of powertrain technologies, including electric, internal combustion, and fuel cell systems.