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 matieral. The methods may also include displacing the sodium ions with potassium ions to form a comrpession 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 disclosed herein generally relate to a microporous separator with a pore geometry that creates a low or no tortuosity architecture. In one embodiment, a battery cell may comprise of an anode layer, a cathode layer, and a separator layer positioned between the cathode layer and the anode layer. The separator layer may be comprised of one or more block copolymers. The block copolymers that make up the separator layer may be materials that self-align into a vertical nanostructure. The vertical nanostructures may allow ions within the battery cell to flow in a vertical path between the cathode and anode. This vertical path my create a low or no tortuosity environment within the battery cell.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that automatically responds to an emergency service vehicle. Perception data is captured or received by the autonomous vehicle (AV) cameras, sensors, and microphones. The perception data is used to detect lanes in a road, generate a list of objects, classify one or more of the objects, and determine a state for the classified objects. In response to detecting an emergency service vehicle such as a law enforcement vehicle, a responsive action may be planned by the AV. The responsive action may include sending an acknowledgement signal, notifying passengers of the AV, generating a planned trajectory based on the emergency service vehicle location, an emergency service vehicle detected intention, and other information. A safety check may be performed, and commands may be generated by a control module to navigate the AV along the planned trajectory. The commands may then be executed by a DBW module.

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 matieral. The methods may also include displacing the sodium ions with potassium ions to form a comrpession 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: Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of providing a centrifugally cast rotor assembly for an induction motor of an electric vehicle. The rotor assembly includes a rotor lamination stack with a cylindrical shape that terminates in a first end surface and a second end surface. The rotor lamination stack has multiple lamination discs, and each lamination disc has multiple rotor slots. The rotor assembly further includes copper bars disposed within the rotor slots, a first intermediary end ring disposed at the first end surface, and a second intermediary end ring disposed at the second end surface. A centrifugally cast first copper end ring that electrically and mechanically couples each of the copper bars is located proximate the first end surface, and a centrifugally cast second copper end ring that electrically and mechanically couples each of the copper bars is located proximate the second end surface.

Abstract: A vehicle battery controller based on a reduced order model is provided. The controller identifies a value of a current output by the battery that supplies power to the vehicle. The controller provides the value of the current to a solid diffusion component, an electrolyte transport component, and a electrolyte and solid potential component. The solid diffusion component can update a solid concentration model of the battery. The electrolyte transport component can update an electrolyte concentration model of the battery. The electrolyte and solid potential component can update an electrolyte potential model and a solid potential model of the battery. The controller component can determine a value of a voltage of the battery and a value of a heat generation rate of the battery. The controller component can generate a command to manage a performance of the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel input mechanism for configuring vehicle output displays. The steering wheel input mechanism can include “forced touch” pressure sensitive areas which serve as an input mechanism for selecting information to visualize on vehicle output displays, such as for example navigation maps or advance driver-assistance systems (ADAS) visualizations. Different levels of information can be provided in response different levels of force applied by a driver (e.g., user) to the steering wheel input mechanism. A vehicle with the present steering wheel input mechanism provides a user with an easy-to-activate and intuitive means to “drill down” and see additional information about their surroundings by varying the firmness (e.g. soft/medium/firm) of pressure applied the steering wheel input mechanisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods to power electric vehicles are disclosed. A battery pack to power an electric vehicle is provided. The battery pack residing in the electric vehicle. The battery pack can include a plurality of battery modules. Each of the plurality of battery modules can include a plurality of battery blocks. A first battery block can include a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. Each of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells can have a pair of battery cell terminals and can have a voltage of up to 5 volts across the pair of battery cell terminals. The plurality of cylindrical battery cells can be electrically connected in parallel within the first battery block. Each cylindrical battery cell of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells can be spatially separated from each of at least one adjacent cylindrical battery cell within the first battery block by less than 2 millimeter (mm).

Abstract: A battery cell for an electric vehicle battery pack can include a housing and a gasket. The housing can define a sidewall of the battery cell that extends between an open end of the housing and a closed end of the housing. The open end of the housing can include an uneven rim pattern having a plurality of peak regions and a plurality of valley regions to define a plurality of tabs. The plurality of peak regions can engage the gasket to seal the housing with the gasket. Each of the plurality of tabs can define a respective flat crimped area. Each flat crimped area can have a surface area between one square millimeter and five square millimeters. At least one of the flat crimped areas can provide a surface for bonding with a wire.

Abstract: Provided herein are a heat sink module of an inverter module to power an electric vehicle. The heats sink module can include a heat sink body having a plurality of mounting holes, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The heats sink module can include a cooling channel that can be fluidly coupled with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The heats sink module can include an insulator plate having a first surface and a second surface. The second surface of the insulator plate can couple with a joining surface of the heat sink body to seal the cooling channel. The heats sink module can include a heat sink lid disposed over the insulator plate. The heat sink lid can have a plurality of mounting feet to couple with the mounting holes of the heat sink body to secure the heat sink lid to the heat sink body.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of powering electric vehicles. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A housing can be arranged in the battery pack and can have a first polarity terminal. A capping element can be mechanically coupled with the housing and can have a second polarity terminal. A battery cell array can be arranged within a cavity in the housing. The battery cell array can have a first polarity terminal electrically coupled with the housing. The battery cell array can have a second polarity terminal electrically coupled with the capping element.

Abstract: Provided herein are a battery cell of a battery pack to power electric vehicles. The battery cell can include a housing. The housing can define an inner region. An electrolyte can be disposed in the inner region defined by the housing. The battery cell can include a lid. A gasket can couple the lid with the first end of the housing to seal the battery cell. The gasket can include a first gasket surface and a second gasket surface. The first end of the housing can have a crimped edge disposed about the first gasket surface to couple the gasket with the first end of the housing and position the second gasket surface adjacent to the electrolyte. The crimped edge can have a first crimped surface having a predetermined pattern for wire bonding and a second crimped surface disposed adjacent to the first gasket surface.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an anti-dendrite anode-free solid-state battery (SSB) are presented. The SSB can include a cathode layer; an anode current collector layer; and a lithium gel separator layer between the cathode layer and the anode current collector layer. An anti-dendrite layer may also be present located between the lithium gel separator layer and the anode current collector layer. The anti-dendrite layer can help discourage dendrite formation.

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: A three-electrode battery cell precisely measures the anode and cathode during cell operation. The successful interpretation of 3-E cell measurements enables accurate tuning of N/P ratio, fine control of electrode potential during operations, and precise cell capacity prediction during early-stage design. The cost-intensive full cell assembly and time-consuming cell testing can be eliminated, and 3-electrode cell testing and analysis can be used to achieve reliable materials sourcing and state-of-the-art cell design with high accuracy and efficiency. The three-electrode cell can be used to analyze and test battery cell designs during pre-production to determine and optimize the capacity, N/P ratio, and voltage window information for mass production of a particular battery design.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) is automatically navigated within a a driving lane. Lane line data is received from one or more sensors, such as one or more cameras. A first parametric curve can be matched to a location of a first lane line detected from the lane line data. A second parametric curve can be matched to a location of a second lane line detected from the lane line data. A center parametric curve can be then generated in the center of the first parametric curve and the second parametric curve. The center parametric curve is then sampled to generate a discrete vector of trajectory points along the center parametric curve. The AV is then navigated along the road based on the trajectory points.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle automatically implements an intention aware lane change with a safety guaranteed lane biased strategy. To make a lane change, the autonomous vehicle first navigates within the current lane to near the edge of the current lane, to a position offset by a bias. By navigating to the edge of the lane, the autonomous vehicle provides a physical and virtual notification, in addition to a turn signal, that it is the intention of the vehicle to change into the lane adjacent to the edge of the lane in which the vehicle has navigated to. After performing a safety check and waiting for a minimum period of time during which vehicles in the adjacent lane can be assumed to have been warned or been put on notice of the lane change, the autonomous vehicle navigates into the adjacent lane.

Abstract: Provided herein is an inverter module that can include a first inverter cell and a second inverter cell, each including at least one transistor device, and a cold plate placed in contact with or proximate to the at least one transistor device. The cold plate can have a coolant channel through the cold plate. A connector can connect a coolant outlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell to a coolant inlet of the cold plate of the second inverter cell in series, to form a continuous channel that extends from the first coolant inlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell into the coolant channel of the cold plate of the second inverter cell. The coolant inlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell can receive coolant fluid into the continuous channel.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of providing a centrifugally cast rotor assembly for an induction motor of an electric vehicle. The rotor assembly includes a rotor lamination stack with a cylindrical shape that terminates in a first end surface and a second end surface. The rotor lamination stack has multiple lamination discs, and each lamination disc has multiple rotor slots. The rotor assembly further includes copper bars disposed within the rotor slots, a first intermediary end ring disposed at the first end surface, and a second intermediary end ring disposed at the second end surface. A centrifugally cast first copper end ring that electrically and mechanically couples each of the copper bars is located proximate the first end surface, and a centrifugally cast second copper end ring that electrically and mechanically couples each of the copper bars is located proximate the second end surface.

Abstract: A multiple particle reduced order model to adjust charging applied to a load based on accurately predicting lithium plating potential in real time during the life of a lithium battery cell. In the current multi-particle reduced order modeling system, the current density and the potential distributions are solved iteratively. Once the current distribution is solved, lithium concentration distribution is solved without involving any iterative process. By solving the lithium concentration distribution as a separate step after the iteratively determined current density and potential distributions, the computation time required by the model to generate an output is dramatically reduced by avoiding solving multiple partial derivative equations iteratively. Based on the potential distribution information provided by the output of the model, lithium plating potential can be determined, and actions can be taken, such as modified charging techniques and rates, to minimize future lithium plating.