Swiss battery system manufacturer Ecovolta has unveiled a “safety concept” for its lithium-ion batteries designed to reduce the risk of battery fires and cell explosions in e-mobility applications.
Ecovolta said the concept employs cell junctions made of “electrolytically nickel-plated cold strips, which automatically disconnect faulty cells from the rest of the battery pack when the current rises”.
In the event of damage to the battery pack the cell junction will melt, separating the damaged cell from the rest of the battery and thereby preventing the electrolyte material from expanding rapidly, the company said. The undamaged rest of the battery then remains functional, with only the capacity diminished by the lost cell(s).
The new safety concept is to be incorporated on all Ecovolta traction batteries, with capacities “ranging from 10Wh to several hundred kWh”.
“This Ecovolta concept offers e-mobility suppliers a battery solution that makes the highest safety standards economical even for small and mid-sized vehicle series,” said Ecovolta CTO Paul Hauser.
In 2018, Ecovolta launched its “standardised” lithium-ion battery, aimed at speeding up the development of electric vehicles. The move came after the company announced the start of operations at a battery pack manufacturing and R&D plant in Switzerland.
