The MEMLAB project aims at developing a new lightweight technology within two years to (increase the market share of the electric vehicle market) assist with the introduction of lead-acid battery technology into the electric vehicle market.
There are many diverse requirements for battery technologies used in vehicles. In some cases it is the relatively simple requirements of the SLI (starter– lights-ignition) battery ranging to the more demanding applications of hybrid and fully electric vehicles where complicated battery management systems are required. It is the objective of the MEMLAB project to decrease the weight of the electrodes within a traditional lead-acid battery and hence increase the power-to-weight ratio of the battery. The overall aim is to reduce vehicle emissions whilst developing a technology suitable for the next generation of vehicles.
The fundamental goal of the project is to create a Metal Fibre Network (MFN) from a suitable lightweight material and then coat it with the active material to form the battery electrode. This will reduce the quantity of heavy lead within the battery and so should cause a corresponding decrease in battery mass.
In order to optimise the performance of the new battery technology a significant part of the project will focus on the development of a battery management system (BMS) to assist with the different electrical requirements as a function of vehicle/drivetrain type.
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