Early results from a systems approach to improving the performance and lifetime of lead acid batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 116; no. 1-2; pp. 110 - 117
• Main Authors: Kellaway, M.J., Jennings, P., Stone, D., Crowe, E., Cooper, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-07-2003; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Battery management; Battery pack construction; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid electric vehicles; Lead acid; Lead acid; Hybrid electric vehicles; Battery pack construction; Battery management; Lead acid batteries; Costs; Hybrid vehicle; Secondary cell; Electric vehicle; Project; Lifetime; Performance; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00714-0

Lead acid batteries offer important advantages in respect of unit cost and ease of recycling. They also have good power and low temperature performance. However, for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) duty with their extreme rates and continuous PSoC operation, improvements are required to significantly extend service life. The Reliable Highly Optimised Lead Acid Battery (RHOLAB) project is taking a radical approach to the design of a lead acid HEV battery pack to address this issue, taking a systems approach to produce a complete pack that is attractive to vehicle manufacturers. This paper describes the project at an intermediate stage where some testing has been completed and the construction of the complete pack system is well under way.