How are batteries used in the mobility industry? This three-week hybrid course introduces how batteries fit into the energy context and provides the fundamental knowledge and state-of-the-art insights into battery technologies. It will cover the key role of batteries as a tool for energy storage, the main components and parameters that characterize a battery, and the electrochemical phenomena that lie behind battery operation. Including detailed explanations of the components of battery cells, battery packs, energy flow, and common battery formats (referenced in J3124), the course looks within a battery to explore the theory and science behind battery technology and the functions of battery components. Applying these concepts, learners will complete exercises for selecting and calculating configurations for different voltage and energy needs.
The course also explores common and future battery technology in practice within the mobility industry. Here, learners will classify different battery technologies, be introduced to different types of chemistries, and outline ion and electron flow. Finally, learners will reflect on the role of batteries as energy storage devices, and how their components can affect the characteristics of each battery technology.
Learners who attend this program will participate in self-paced eLearning, Instructor-led sessions, and Assignments that will be completed each week. Each of the three weeks include:
Week 1 (10 hours)Week 2 (10 hours)
Week 3 (10 hours)
- Explain the history of batteries including common applications
This course is for anyone interested in developing their knowledge of battery storage fundamentals and electrochemical phenomena as well as current and emerging battery storage technologies.
- Live Session: Kickoff and Introductions
- Outline of program
- Instructor expertise
- Learner goals
- Learner knowledge
- Program metrics
- eLearning: Introduction to Batteries
- The theory of electricity ¿ what it is and what it isn¿t
- The history of batteries
- List of basic battery terminology
- Explanation of secondary batteries
- Examples primary and secondary batteries and their uses
- List of batteries
- Activity where learners identify everyday uses of batteries and labeling the type of battery
- Explanation of automotive batteries and how they differ from laptop and consumer electronics
- Components of a battery cell
- List of various chemistries within batteries
- Align the objectives noted above with these ones
- Diagram or visual of commonly used battery formats
- Exercise: Experience with Batteries
- Learners will share how they observed various batteries being utilized
- Live Session: Battery Basics
- Introduction of the topic
- Battery Overview
- Type of Battery ¿ Activity where learners select the correct battery given the components
- Introduction of Series and parallel configuration
- Exercise: Calculate a Series and Parallel Configuration
- Learners will calculate one series and parallel to determine the best battery to use in a specific scenario
- eLearning: Electrochemical Concepts Behind Batteries
- What is electrochemistry
- Description of an atom
- Description of a cation
- Description of an anion
- Explanation of how atoms, cations and anions relate to batteries
- Introduction of lithium-ion batteries and how they work
- Explanation of electrochemical reaction in lithium-ion batteries
- Definition of RedOx reactions and their application
- Explanation of how RedOx reactions work (focus on polarization during the redox reaction
- Explanation of charging and discharging processes (with a focus on electron and ion processes
- Definition of intercalation and lithium plating
- Explanation of how intercalation and lithium plating function
- Explanation of crystalline structures of lithium-ion chemistries
- Examples of various batteries lithium-ion chemistries, cathode materials and anode materials
- Explanation of how battery packs work
- Explanation of series
- Explanation of parallels
- How to calculate series and parallels
- eLearning: Current Battery Technology
- Explanation of battery processes in electric vehicles
- Definition and Explanation of NMC, NCA, NMCA, LFP, LMFP, LCO, LMO, LTO
- Definition of Silicon blended <10%, Silicon 100% and Natural/Artificial Graphite and how they impact battery function
- Considerations when selecting the best battery for specific applications
- Introduce Ohm¿s law here
- Formula and considerations for calculating the constant power capability of a 350V 100kWh battery using NMC, LFP and LTO chemistry
- Explanation of life cycle
- List of applications of lithium-ion batteries
- Formula and considerations to calculate the number of cells needed to create a 350V 100kWh battery using an NMC, LFP and LTO chemistry
- Formula and considerations to calculate the number of cells needed to create an 800V 100kWh battery using an NMC, LFP and LTO chemistry
- Calculate the usable energy for a 350V 100kWh battery using an NMC chemistry assuming 80% depth of discharge, 90% depth of discharge
- Live Session: Battery Functions
- Review of Previous Practical Application activity
- Introduction to Electrochemical Concepts
- Activity where learners will choose the correct electrochemical reaction in a typical lithium-ion cell
- Introduction to RedOx, charging, discharging, intercalation and lithium plating
- Secondary batteries
- Introduction to lithium-ion, cathode, anode chemistries
- How to calculate cells
- Exercise: Calculate the Number of Cells
- Learners will be given a scenario to calculate the number of cells needed
- Live Session: Battery Application and Usage
- Explain the battery processes in electric vehicles
- Identify different lithium-ion chemistries
- Describe Silicon blended batteries
- Identify considerations when selecting the best battery for specific applications
- Explain Ohm¿s law
- Define the life cycle of a battery
- eLearning: Emerging Battery Technology
- Explanation of industry standards such as usabc
- Explanation of current market conditions
- Anticipation of future market conditions
- Including what is on the horizon:
- Silicon metal
- Lithium- metal
- Explanation of (Include their value, and their challenges)
- Aluminum- ion
- Magnesium-ion
- Potassium-ion
- Definition of battery solid state (include all-solid and semi-solid)
- Explanation battery solid state (include of what makes it that way and value chain)
- Formula and considerations to calculate the volume improvement of a 350V 100kWh battery using a solid-state battery as compared to a traditional lithium-ion battery
- Formula and considerations to calculate the range improvement when converting a traditional lithium-ion to solid-state battery
- Define lithium-sulfur batteries (include benefits, challenges)
- Live Session: Putting it Into Practice
- Review of practical application
- Discussion on where learners go from here
- Activity where learners need to propose a solution to a battery problem
Anup Barai or John Warner
Anup Barai's current research focus is on Battery Safety, with a particular interest in Aerospace application. Building on his expertise in energy storage technologies for the Automotive industry, he is working to develop safe battery system for Electric Aircraft, capable of vertical/conventional take-off and landing (eVTOL / eCTOL). Since joining WMG in 2011, he has secured funding for and delivered low-to-mid TRL research for multiple national and international collaborative programs. He has developed novel characterization techniques and enhanced existing tools for use within the automotive, rail, marine and aerospace sectors. To date, he has published more than twenty-five high impact journal articles. He am particularly proud of being invited by a number of institutes, conferences and workshops to talk about how we can make batteries safer for aerospace applications.
Dr. John Warner is a sought after and recognized battery industry expert, speaker, author and an experienced sales, business development, strategic marketing, and product management executive with over 30 years in the automotive and battery industries. Dr Warner serves as Chief Customer Officer for American Battery Solutions and as Founder and President at Warner Energy Consulting LLC. Previously Dr. Warner served in executive sales and marketing leadership positions with EnerDel, XALT Energy, Magna Steyr Battery Systems and Boston-Power, as well as spending nearly 20 years in the automotive space, including 13 years with General Motors. In addition, he serves as Chairman Emeritus of the industry trade group NAATBatt International and sits on several SAE battery standards committees. Dr. Warner published two books on lithium-ion batteries, his first book ¿The Handbook of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Design¿ in 2015 and his second book, ¿Lithium-Ion Battery Chemistries: A Primer¿ published in May 2019.