The Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre’s battery systems research helps partners test, develop and integrate new energy storage technologies by conducting bespoke application-oriented tests, developing algorithms for state estimation and health prognosis for battery management systems, and developing new modelling techniques tailored to the needs of specific applications.  We combine expertise in estimation theory, artificial intelligence and battery modelling with specialised and customisable on-site experimental facilities.
Our expertise and focus
Our focus is on delivering practical solutions to partners who are seeking to develop or use new energy storage technologies. Examples of this might be:
- Batteries containing new components or new materials
- Existing battery technologies applied in a new or unusual way
- Integration with other vehicle systems, including interactions with hybrid energy storage and thermal management
We can help in the following ways:
- Testing battery behaviours under physically simulated real-world application conditions using our hardware-in-the-loop test rigs
- Design of state estimation and health prognosis algorithms using estimation theory and artificial intelligence
- Creation of bespoke application-level electrochemical and thermal models
- Design of control algorithms for battery and energy management systems
- Generation of real-time software
We have close colleagues in our centre who can help with vehicle integration, crashworthiness and structural health monitoring.
Our experimental facilities
The Advanced Battery Laboratory is equipped with a suite of hardware-in-the-loop test cells consisting of computer-controlled bidirectional power sources/sinks that can be used to apply realistic application duty cycles.
- These can charge and discharge cells and small modules following any profile of choice including test characterisations and application duty cycles.
- We are able to incorporate real-time application and algorithms, providing hardware-in-the-loop and rapid control prototyping capabilities.
- The test environment is temperature controlled either using climatic chambers or bespoke rigs designed to reflect the in-application environment.
- A range of voltages and currents is available: most of our rigs are designed for cell-level tests at up to 10 V and 200 A, but we have specialist facilities for higher voltage and current capabilities.
The Phoenix Laboratory is an environment designed for conducting small-to-medium scale tests where fire risks need management. It has all the capabilities of the Advanced Battery Laboratory but allows us to undertake abuse case testing in a controlled environment.
The default power supply fitted to the Phoenix Lab is rated for tests up to 60 V and 360 A and supports both charge and discharge. We have specialist equipment for different voltage and current levels.
We have access to Cranfield’s wider test facilities which include chassis dynamometry, wide-open spaces suitable for outdoor testing and specialist environments for hazardous testing.
Software and computation
Our team has expertise in modelling in several languages and platforms. For most of our work, we use MATLAB and Simulink as a base platform.
Our specialist expertise includes:
- Fast system identification for nonlinear models using grey-box techniques and first-principles mathematics
- Design and implementation of recursive Bayesian filters, e.g. extended Kalman filters and particle filters
- Neural networks – including ANFIS and LSTM
- Machine learning
- Equivalent circuit network modelling
- Reduced-order physics-based modelling
We are able to produce Simulink models suitable for real-time code generation, making them directly suitable for use in battery management systems.
Our people
The Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre’s battery systems research is led by Dr Daniel Auger and Dr Abbas Fotouhi.  For testing and system integration we enjoy regular support from Dr Kim Blackburn. Dr Marzio Grasso takes an interest in structural health monitoring and structural batteries. We have good links with colleagues across the university with related interests.
