Cat In Off-Highway Battery Storage Alliance

England’s AVID Technology said it has joined forces with Caterpillar UK and Imperial College London to develop a new battery storage system for electric off-highway machinery.

The overall aim is to create an advanced battery system capable of meeting the life cycle and load demands of a heavy duty electric or hybrid vehicle, whilst still delivering the high levels of energy density required.

Funded in part by Innovate UK’s Faraday Challenge Industrial Strategy Fund, the project is worth £2.8 million, and will see the consortium working together to improve battery life through advanced controls, monitoring and thermal management.

Utilizing simulation techniques, the team will also demonstrate that integrated powertrain systems utilizing battery storage can be commercially viable for electric and hybrid vehicles in the commercial on-highway as well as off-highway sectors.

Dr. Gregory Offer from Imperial College London said: “We are excited to be working with Caterpillar and AVID Technology on developing the next generation of advanced battery packs for industrial machinery and heavy duty on road vehicles. The project will bring together multiple innovative ideas to deliver a step change in performance and cost for these aggressive applications, helping to develop the UK supply chain and create a world class battery industry in the UK.”

AVID’s core expertise lies in the design of power electronics and motors used in electric propulsion systems for the electric and hybrid vehicle industry, robotics and aerospace sectors. The company also has experience in the design of battery and thermal management systems.