Electro-thermal Management and Charging of Next-Gen Automotive Batteries with Seamless Transition to Second-Life Stationary Applications

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The transportation sector accounts for 28% of total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. With anational price on carbon to be imposed in 2018, Electric vehicles (EVs) will inevitably play an integral role inmeeting Canada's commitment to a 30% overall reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Thisfour-year multi-disciplinary research project is a collaboration between Prof. Trescases, a power electronicsexpert; Prof. Amon, a thermal management expert; and Havelaar Canada, a Toronto-based innovative EVmanufacturer that unveiled the world's first made-in-Canada electric pickup truck in May 2016. The team willalso collaborate with the Eindhoven University of Technology and the National Research Council of Canada.This research addresses several key hurdles that limit the widespread penetration of EVs, namely the high costand limited real-world performance of today's conservatively-designed lithium battery packs, which ultimatelydictate the EV driving range and longevity. The goal of this research is to demonstrate disruptive battery andon-board charging systems that combine: (1) real-time impedance-based state-of-charge (SOC), state-of-health(SOH) and power availability determination at the cell level, (2) high-precision active balancing, (3) selectiveand localized liquid heating/cooling within the pack, and (4) optimal mechanical/power-electronics design toenable a seamless transition to grid-tied stationary battery applications. This research represents one of the firstinitiatives to provide a holistic design approach for transitioning EV batteries to stationary second-lifeapplications. In this so-called "second-life", old and degraded EV batteries will be repurposed to stabilize theAC power grid and facilitate renewable energy integration, while further deriving value from the EV.Ultimately, this research will lead to more affordable EVs, with a longer driving range in real-world conditionsand a reduced carbon footprint. Havelaar will exploit the research outcomes, deploying them in their upcomingEV platforms and increasing Canada's competitiveness in clean transportation, while providing world-classtraining and employment opportunities in the heart of Canada's innovation district.