The battery system 2m x 1.4m is enormous in size and weight, as much as 700 kg and 22-27% of total vehicle weight. At a minimum, this mass needs to remain stable during vehicle performance. In the best designs, the battery and enclosure greatly enhances vehicle structure and ability to absorb crash energy. To. “Load path distribution in the structure of extruded profiles”. which makes up 47% of the sophisticated crash structure of the Audi e-Tron. In crash, including the side pole crash test, extrusions. Stiff & Strong and Straight Extrusions Providing Structural Support, Crash Management, Fluid Transport and Robust Mounts Back to Top >>.
The choice of materials used for a battery case has to cover a wide range of performance issues. Replacing steel or bonded aluminium with thermoplastics or glass fibre composites is offering lighter cases and more options for increasing the energy density by using larger components that can be more easily assembled.
In most cases, you will find aluminum and stainless steel battery cabinets. Of course, we have galvanized steel, plastic, and composite materials. A good material for the battery box should be: So far, aluminum and stainless steel guarantee better performance. Apart from these 4, you may classify battery box enclosures depending on:
The majority of long-range BEVs in production use aluminum as the main material for the battery enclosure. (Constellium) Mass reduction is the main driver behind aluminum battery enclosures, but thermal requirements prove challenging for the lightweight material.
One plug-in hybrid EV built in China is already using a thermoplastic polypropylene compound instead of aluminium for its battery case cover, providing savings in weight. Other EVs now in production around world are using several thermoplastic materials for components such as cell carriers and housings, battery modules and battery enclosures.
Let's look at the most common parts: Frame – it forms the outer structure. In most cases, you will mount or weld various panels on the structure. The battery storage cabinet may have top, bottom, and side panels. Door – allows you to access the battery box enclosure. You can use hinges to attach the door to the enclosure structure.
The battery box consists of four primary structural pieces: top cover, bottom cover, internal structure, and side impact crash protection structure. In the image below, the primary load-bearing structural components are identified as the crash structure and the battery frame. Read Success Stories