Short description: As of now, most battery cells used in mobile applications are contacted by welding, which makes disassembly and repair very difficult. A detachable cell contacting solution allowing repair, refit and proper recycling of batteries is thus needed to increase resource efficiency and product longevity.
Market potential: Batteries with detachable cell contacting could be primarily applied to low-power mobile applications like electric bicycles. 4.6 million electric bikes have been sold in Europe in 2020.
Timing: Market demand for E-bikes is growing; Solutions that allow users to repair their battery packs, enable remanufacturing and recycling to increase longevity and resource efficiency are needed quickly.
Desired result: Principle solution of a detachable cell contacting mechanism and the necessary actuation, allowing manual disassembly, repair and refit, validated in simulation and with physical prototypes.
Information on challenge owner: University.
Keywords: Batteries; Hybrid and Electric Vehicles; Cell Contacting; Design for Remanufacture; Design for Disassembly
