UK startup develops higher energy density EV battery pack
UK startup IONETIC has launched a new battery pack platform design that it claims can boost the energy density of EV batteries by more than 30% compared to existing packs.
The technology, it says, allows automotive companies to design and develop batteries with better performance than off-the-shelf units but with a lower cost and faster time-to-market than entirely bespoke solutions.
Aside from the increased density, IONETIC also claims that the software quickly generates customisable, optimised designs that can increase the utilisation of pack volume by up to 120%. Similarly, the company says that the software can reduce development costs by 90% and turn around new designs in a matter of days.
The faster development and improved performance are a result of the software platform's ability to automatically generate designs according to a series of fully adjustable parameters while offering a vertically integrated solution to battery pack production, which includes homologation and mass manufacture.
"There are many stages needed to get a battery pack into production. Automotive companies need to consider requirements, system design, homologation, embedded control, manufacturing options, and vehicle integration, to name a few," says James Eaton, CEO and co-founder of IONETIC.
"These stages are often done by different companies, which can lead to a costly, fragmented process. At IONETIC we facilitate all these stages, simplifying the process and reducing the cost for EV OEMs."
Dr Monica Marinescu, IONETIC's other co-founder and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College says, “The EV battery sector is set to grow 15-30% annually for the next 10 years and so there is a huge opportunity for an agile start-up such as IONETIC. At a time when competition in this space is stronger than ever, it is crucial automotive companies pursue battery technologies that provide a balance between performance, cost reduction and resource optimisation.
"Our battery solution is the product of a diverse team of battery scientists, educated and trained at Imperial College, one of the world's leading universities. We leverage the latest, state-of-the-art technologies to help businesses transition to electric mobility.”