Performance and range of EVs are determined primarily by the battery system, which is the most expensive and major subsystem. The battery management system is the key to efficient energy utilization and adequate range, ultimately determining customer acceptance and widespread adoption of EVs.
The Battery Pack Management and Monitoring group will conduct research and education activities in battery and energy storage systems in the areas of battery systems electronics and mechanical architectures, State-of-Health (SOH) monitoring, including diagnosis and prognosis, State-Of-Charge (SOC) estimation, equalization, and control implementation, and battery charging electronics and controls. Successful roll-out of EVs will be determined by improving battery system reliability and performance, charging (“refueling”) convenience and speed, safety, lifespan, efficiency, and cost.