Scientists Develop Sensors That Warn of EV Battery Failure

Jan 4 2012

The technical gurus at the Applied Physics Laboratory of the John Hopkins University have made a discovery that could in future swing many more motorists to sign up for a car finance deal on an electric vehicle: a simple device that will warn the driver when his EV's lithium-ion battery is about to fail.

The best part is that the sensor they have developed will be very inexpensive.  They came up with this discovery after studying the electrical parameters of the cell itself and the internal temperature of the battery's lithium-ion cells.

What they found is that when you apply a minute alternating current at specific frequencies, the cell modifies it in a way that bears a direct relation to the temperature of the electrochemical interface between both the electrodes and the electrolyte.

The sensor they created in the process uses power from the battery that it is monitoring.  It makes use of an uncomplicated electrical connection at the negative and positive terminals.

According to the researchers they have discovered that cell failure starts in the protective layers between the electrolyte and the electrodes of the battery.  Measuring the temperature of these layers allows them to get an early warning of imminent battery failure.

It is expected that the new sensor will be utilised in battery management systems to manage and monitor battery performance.  It will help to pick up unsafe thermal conditions at a critical point before they take place and thereby help to increase the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Author - Louise Hutchinson

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