i-HeCoBatt

The envisaged European CO2 fleet emission limits for 2025-2030 already require a massive market introduction of EVs. However, there are still some obstacles for user acceptance of EVs: high cost, slow charging, limited range, perceived lack of added value and concerns of limited mobility.

In this context, i-HeCoBatt stands for Intelligent Heating and Cooling solution for enhanced range EV Battery packs. The aim of i-HeCoBatt is to achieve a smart, cost bursting industrial battery heat exchanger to minimize the impact on full electric vehicle range in extreme conditions.

The proposed solution will remove the currently used expensive and heavy gap filler between the heat exchanger and the battery pack and will replace the aluminium interface plate in contact with the battery pack with a thin polymer layer. This design enhances the efficiency of the heating and cooling system that will be supported by a heating actuator in direct contact to the battery pack. Customized printed sensors will be embedded to the heat exchanger and will feed the battery management control unit as well as an external early diagnostic and safety system connected to the cloud. Different interfaces will be created to access these data according to user profiles: designers, testers, maintenance teams or driver. Finally, the industrialization of the patented innovative heat exchanger concept will contribute to the cost reduction of the heating and cooling system and the EV.

The Consortium gathers know-how from a multidisciplinary group of research centres, SME and industrial partners, including an automotive OEM, with expertise in battery pack and thermal systems design, testing and manufacturing for automotive applications. Partners behind the intelligent heat exchanger concept are European TIERs that intend to position with an unbeatable environmental compliant product that will be introduced in OEMs value chain in a maximum period of 2 years after the closure of the project.

CIDETEC Energy Storage will be the coordinator of the project and represent the project in several events. Regarding specific topics, CIDETEC will be mainly focused on modelling and simulation activities: in WP2 will support the battery pack thermal modelling and simulation task; in WP3 & WP7 will support the heat exchanger design and simulation activity. On the other hand, in WP5, CIDETEC will be in charge of the TMS definition and implementation. Additionally, as technical coordinator, CIDETEC will monitor and participate in every activity related to discussion of initial specifications and requirements along the proposal.