Abstract: Various methods and techniques for enhancing a silicon-containing anode for a battery cell are presented. The methods may include providing a silicon-containing anode having reversible electrochemical capabilities including a silicon-containing material and an anode material compatible with a lithium-ion battery chemistry having porous and conductive mechanical properties. The methods may also include enriching a surface layer of the silicon-containing anode with sodium ions to intersperse the sodium ions between silicon atoms of the silicon-containing material. The methods may also include displacing the sodium ions with potassium ions to form a compression layer in the silicon-containing anode. The potassium ions may place the silicon atoms of the silicon-containing material in a pre-compressive state to counteract internal stress exerted on the silicon-containing material.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to the modification of State of Charge (SoC) calculations within electric vehicles (EVs). A database of data points may be generated based on characteristics of a battery cell at various measured SoCs within a controlled environment. Subsequently, during the operation of an EV, a battery management system (BMS) within the EV may collect various operating data points. The collected operating data points may be utilized to reference similar data points stored in the database in order to determine an SoC value. The SoC value may be utilized to modify or alter the SoC calculations by the BMS for an EV in operation.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of providing electrical energy for electric vehicles. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can have a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The battery cell can have an electrode structure arranged within the cavity. The electrode structure can include a first polarity electrode plate, a second polarity electrode plate, and at least one separator. First and second polarity tabs are coupled with the first and second polarity electrode plates, respectively. The tabs include a flat surface, an electrode interface surface and at least one intermediate surface that extends therebetween. The at least one intermediate surface forms an acute angle with the electrode interface surface.

Abstract: Provided is a scalable battery module. In once example embodiment, the module includes a plurality of submodules. Each plurality of submodules is configured to hold one or more cell batteries. The module further includes one or more of a first connector, a second connector, or a third connector. The first connector may secure an alignment of two or more adjacent submodules of the plurality of submodules along a first dimensional axis by using at least one of two slots and two projections of the first connector. The second connector secures the alignment of two adjacent submodules of the plurality of submodules along a second dimensional axis by using at least two further slots of the second connector. The third connector secures the alignment of two adjacent submodules of the plurality of submodules along a third dimensional axis by using at least two further projections of the third connector.

Abstract: A battery cell for an electric vehicle battery pack is provided. A housing of the battery cell can define a cavity. An electrolyte material can be housed within the cavity. A first polarity terminal of the battery cell can be disposed at an open end of the housing. A first conductive tab can be disposed at a closed end of the housing and electrically coupled with a first polarity portion of the electrolyte material. A conductive rod can extend through a core of the electrolyte material and can include a first end disposed at the closed end of the housing and electrically coupled with the first conductive tab. A receptacle can be electrically coupled with the first polarity terminal and can extend towards the electrolyte material to engage with a second end of the conductive rod at the open end of the housing.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for controlling a maximum current threshold of a battery system within a vehicle are presented. The systems may include a battery module, one or more vehicle systems, a battery management system having a battery monitoring unit that monitors a current parameter, and a battery control system that receives the current parameter from the battery monitoring unit. The battery control system may be configured to identify a current event for the battery module, determine a duration of the current event, compare the duration of the current event to a plurality of time thresholds, determine the current parameter based on the duration of the current event, determine a maximum current parameter based on the duration of the current event and the current parameter, and control the one or more vehicle systems such that a current of the one or more batteries does not exceed the maximum current parameter.

Abstract: Various arrangements for a battery module cooling system are presented. A thermal tower may be contoured to contact one or more battery cells. The thermal tower may include a holding member and a cooling member. A hollow interior region having a top aperture may be defined by the holding member. A portion of each of the one or more battery cells may be contacted by the cooling member to provide localized cooling to each of the one or more battery cells. A seal may be formed between the holding member and the cooling member by positioning the cooling member on the top aperture of the holding member. Optionally, the portion that the cooling members may contact to provide localized cooling may include a hot region having a higher temperature than other portions of each of the one or more battery cells.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of storing electrical energy for electric vehicles are provided. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can have a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The battery cell can have a solid electrolyte arranged within the cavity. The battery cell can have a cathode disposed within the cavity along a first side of the solid electrolyte. The battery cell can have an anode. The anode can have a carbon nanotube structure. The anode can be disposed within the cavity along the second side of the solid electrolyte and separated from the cathode by the solid electrolyte. The carbon nanotube structure can have pores. The pores can be deposited with electrolyte material to retain lithium material received via the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of storing electrical energy for electric vehicles are provided. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can have a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The battery cell can have a solid electrolyte arranged within the cavity. The battery cell can have a cathode disposed within the cavity along a first side of the solid electrolyte. The battery cell can have an anode. The anode can have a carbon nanotube structure. The anode can be disposed within the cavity along the second side of the solid electrolyte and separated from the cathode by the solid electrolyte. The carbon nanotube structure can have pores. The pores can be deposited with electrolyte material to retain lithium material received via the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery cell providing a coated lithium reference lead includes at least one anode layer, at least one cathode layer, and a reference lead. The reference lead includes a conductive wire, a layer of lithium metal coupled to the conductive wire, and a polymer coating that covers the layer of lithium metal. The reference lead is inserted into the battery cell with the at least one anode layer and the at least one cathode layer.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods of regulating vehicle powertrains in electric vehicles using driving patterns. A vehicle control unit (VCU) can be disposed in the electric vehicle. The VCU can maintain operation profiles. Each operation profile can specify a set of regulation parameters to be applied to the vehicle powertrain for motion measurement and an engine measurement identified as associated with an environmental condition. The VCU can compare the motion measurement and the engine measurement acquired from the sensor with the motion measurement and the engine measurement specified by an operation profile. The VCU can select an operation profile based on the comparison. The VCU can identify the set of regulation parameters for an environmental condition specified by the operation profile. The VCU can apply the set of regulation parameters to the vehicle powertrain to control the propulsion of the electric vehicle in accordance with the operation profile.

Abstract: A physics-based calendar life model for determining the state of health of a lithium ion battery cell. The model accounts for parasitic reactions on anode and cathode particles to accurately determine degradation of a battery. By incorporating electrolyte decomposition in a cathode, the present calendar model can predict capacity retention as well as the substantial rise of cell resistance at high state of charge (SOC) and temperatures. The present calendar model is a simple algorithm, utilizing only three parameters, and determines the capacity retention and resistance rise based on temperature, SOC and time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a battery pack to power an electric vehicle are provided. The battery pack can include a plurality of battery modules having a plurality of battery blocks. The battery blocks can include a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. A first current collector can include a conductive layer to couple the first current collector with positive terminals of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells. A second current collector can include a conductive layer to couple the second current collector with negative terminals of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells. The first current collector, second current collector, and an isolation layer can include a plurality of apertures to expose the positive terminals of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells. The positive terminals can extend through the plurality of apertures to couple with the conductive layer of the first current collector.

Abstract: Fuzzy-logic based traction control for electric vehicles is provided. The system detects a wheel slip ratio for each wheel. The system receives an input torque command. The system determines a slip error for each wheel based on the wheel slip ratio for each wheel and a target wheel slip ratio. The system, using the fuzzy-logic based control selection technique, selects a traction control technique from one of a least-quadratic-regulator, a sliding mode controller, a loop-shaping based controller, or a model predictive controller. The system generates a compensation torque value for each wheel. The system generates the compensation torque value based on the traction control technique selected via the fuzzy-logic based control selection technique and the slip error for each wheel. The system transmits commands to actuate drive units of the vehicles based on the compensation torque value.

Abstract: An automatically generated and customized fast charging process results in reduced degradation in the battery cell. An algorithm for a particular battery cell profile is automatically generated and customized to minimize degradation due to fast charging for that particular batch. To generate the custom algorithm, battery cell information is retrieved for a profile of a battery, wherein each battery profile may have a particular manufacturer, model, type, electrode batch, and potentially other specific identification information. Each battery cell is charged from a particular SOC level and at a selected C-rate, and then discharged. During discharge, the battery cell is monitored for detection of lithium plating or other undesirable effects. A lookup table is automatically generated from the battery cell information, and can be provided to devices and/or battery management systems. The BMS then uses the lookup table to apply a charging process that is customized to the on-board battery.

Abstract: Techniques described herein relate generally to determining and applying threshold discharging C-rates for battery cells in low temperature environments. To combat internal resistance within a battery cell at low temperature, heat may be generated within a battery cell via a high discharge C-rate. A higher discharge C-rate may cause more heat generation with a battery cell and the higher temperature may mitigate the low temperature environment. As a result of the heat generation, a battery cell's capacity may be increased. Techniques described herein may identify, for a particular low temperature (0 degrees Celsius and below), a threshold discharge C-rate that if a battery cell is discharged above the threshold, the effect of temperature rising would be more dominant than the effect of the internal resistance and more capacity would be obtained from the battery cell.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of providing electric power to components in electric vehicles are detailed herein. A housing can have a bottom panel and side walls defining a cavity. The bottom panel can define an inlet port and an outlet port. A battery module can be disposed within the cavity. A support structure can be on one side wall. The support structure can have a conduit to pass coolant through the housing. A cold plate can be disposed within the cavity and thermally coupled with the battery module. The cold plate can have an inlet, an outlet, and a channel to circulate the coolant from the inlet to the outlet. A distribution plate can be disposed along a bottom surface of the bottom panel. The distribution plate can have a main channel to convey the coolant from the conduit to the cold plate.