A breakthrough in battery technology
When it comes to battery technology, innovation is aiming to solve four major challenges: performance, cost, compactness, and sustainability. Flanders Make is at the forefront of addressing these challenges, preparing for the next big breakthrough in battery technology suitable for a broad range of applications. In this article we present our hybrid battery solution, how we validated it and what the future has in store!
Achieving the right balance of power and energy performance is essential to any electric system. Energy density affects storage capacity, which is crucial for long ranges. Power density influences how quickly energy can be released during sudden surges. Until now, oversized battery packs have been the traditional way to meet both requirements.
As the pursuit of more efficient and powerful battery technology continues, the spotlight has recently turned to solid-state batteries. Celebrated for their ability to store significant amounts of energy and release it rapidly, these batteries represent a promising leap forward. However, early-stage solid state batteries are of lower power density and slower power increase compared to current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries, potentially resulting in even more (power requirement driven) oversizing.
That is why Flanders Make researched a hybrid energy storage solution to achieve an exceptional balance of power and performance. The hybrid architecture makes the battery packs lighter and cheaper than traditional systems, while still fulfilling on-demand high power needs. Oversizing is a thing of the past.
Hybrid Energy Storage: Surging power and long range
Our novel hybrid energy storage system combines the fast power delivery of supercapacitors with the high energy capacity of solid-state batteries. This innovative system exploits the exceptional power density of supercapacitors, which can be more than 50 times that of batteries, to meet high power demands without upsizing the battery system. This configuration reduces the overall size and weight of the battery pack while maintaining its dynamic performance.
Dynamic performance and sustainability
The advanced energy management system enables energy exchange between two types of energy storage systems, increasing the efficiency and usability of the energy storage system. On the one hand, supercapacitors are enabled "charging on the go" - energy can be dynamically transferred from the batteries to the supercapacitors during vehicle operation, maximizing the availability of supercapacitors. On the other hand, supercapacitors can largely increase the energy recovery efficiency due to its high power density.
Supercapacitors also offer an additional environmental benefit: they rely much less on rare materials and lithium, making them a greener alternative.
CHEAPER, Smaller, lighter: it is possible
By achieving an optimal balance between power and energy requirements, this hybrid system can be tailored to specific needs without excess capacity. Depending on the specific energy cells and load profiles used, the resulting energy storage system can achieve cost and size reductions of over 30%, making it both lighter and cheaper than conventional systems.
Want to find out the benefits of a hybrid solution for your particular needs? Check out our battery sizing tool that simulates within seconds how much cheaper, smaller, and lighter your hybrid electrification solution could be!
Validating our result: Presenting the E-Booster Kart
We equipped an electric kart with our cutting-edge hybrid energy storage system. Validating the promising benefits of this solution. The battery pack is able to provide longe range as well as short burst of high power, or "boosts":
- Hybrid system combining a semi-solid state battery with supercapacitors
- Power boost mode for exceptionally fast acceleration
- Supercapacitors are charged on the go, offering multiple boosts per battery charge.
At our symposium on October 22st, participants had the opportunity to test drive this electric kart and experience first-hand how this technology is driving forward the future of energy efficiency and high-performance applications across industries.
The vast Potential of Hybrid Energy Systems
The potential of Flanders Make's innovative hybrid energy storage architecture extends well beyond electric vehicles. This versatile system can dramatically enhance performance across a variety of sectors:
- Electric Vehicles: In passenger cars, the architecture provides substantial power boosts, crucial for quick overtaking on highways, minimizing the duration and risk involved.
- Agricultural and Off-Road Equipment: In off-highway scenarios, such as with tractors, it delivers additional torque to assist in challenging conditions like starting up on steep inclines or operating in rugged terrain.
- Maritime Applications: On electric ships, supercapacitors are ideal for peak shaving—managing sudden surges in power demand—particularly useful during the intensive energy demands of loading or unloading heavy containers.
- Energy Grids: For grid applications, this system can balance long-duration energy storage with the ability to handle high-power demands, supporting grid stability and providing ancillary services.
These applications showcase the flexibility and capability of the hybrid system to meet diverse and demanding energy needs across sectors, ensuring efficiency and sustainability.