10116996Modular & Smart Batteries for Flexible Usage in Urban Applications (MoSBat)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe project aims to develop vehicle/platform-agnostic "hot-swappable" and "smart" battery module (or "BattMod") that can be multi-purposed as energy bank for the solar-charging-station and power for different electric vehicles (EV). E.g., 3-wheeler (4x BattMod), 4-wheeler (6x BattMod), solar-station (100x BattMod); every module being identical and in circulation between the various vehicles and stations. This project also enables vehicles to accept different number of BattMods at varying levels of charge for flexible EV range. Novelties explored in this project can be summarised under three headings: electrical, mechanical, software/AI. 1) Electrical Innovations: Traditional EV powertrain architecture limits vehicles to a specific range determined by a single, OEM-designed battery pack. The project seeks to redesign this architecture to accept varying numbers of BattMods and differing charge levels. For example, an EV could use fewer BattMods for short commutes during the week and install more for longer trips on weekends, thereby optimizing weight and range. This requires a novel Battery Management System (BMS). 2) Mechanical Enhancements: The BattMod enclosure will be redesigned to prioritize lightweighting, efficient cooling, and additive manufacturing (AM). By integrating modern AM techniques, the enclosure can feature internal lattice structures for strength and cooling channels using multiple materials for optimal weight reduction. 3) Software and AI Integration: Korean partners are leading the development of smart features for the BattMod. Smart sensors embedded within the module will create a 3D temperature and pressure "heat-map," with data continuously uploaded to a cloud server. AI algorithms will monitor the health and performance of BattMods in circulation, providing real-time updates to users via a smartphone app. Overall, this project aims to revolutionize EV powertrain architecture by introducing flexibility, lightweighting, and intelligence through a modular, hot-swappable battery system.