April 5, 2016

Design Review – Lithium-ion or Lead-acid Packs

Large packs are required for larger applications. Dr. Olson has particular expertise in understanding and managing large packs of either lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries.

There are a large variety of lithium-ion cell designs using different anodes, cathodes and separators. These active material differences have important relationships to performance, safety and life. If your batteries need to be operated outside normal limits, it is important to understand these details and design appropriate controls or possibly find a better cell.

If you use small lithium-ion cells in a larger pack, it is important to understand the additional demands placed on battery uniformity and quality. Poor quality cells can lead to higher product warranty returns, less customer satisfaction and potentially a catastrophic safety event. We can help you understand the relationship between quality and product liability risk and how to determine them.