Thermulon – AEROMOTIVE
Developing and testing Aerogel Thermal Runaway Barriers for deployment in next-gen battery systems, directly supporting the UK’s shift to zero-emission vehicles by enhancing battery safety and efficiency.
Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles are vulnerable to Thermal Runaway, where a cell heats in an uncontrolled manner and causes overheating in the rest of the module or pack. The spread of Thermal Runaway can be prevented with an effective anti-thermal propagation (ATP) Thermal Runaway barrier: a thin, lightweight layer of super-insulating material.
The project partners will develop AEROMOTIVE: A UK-made aerogel-based electric vehicle Thermal Runaway Barrier for use in next-gen battery systems, produced by JLR. Thermulon will develop the anti-thermal propagation production process, supported by CamMotive, who will design a test system to evaluate the performance of anti-thermal propagation pads under various conditions.
Project highlights:
- Addressing key challenges in battery safety: thermal propagation, cell swelling, cost constraints, and supply chain security.
- Cell Swelling Management: Optimised compression properties accommodate swelling without excessive stress on cell stacks.
- Thermal Propagation Mitigation: Superior thermal insulation prevents heat transfer, reducing thermal runway risks and vehicle fire hazards.
- Cost Reduction: Thermulon’s process lowers aerogel production costs by up to five times, making ATP pads viable for mass vehicle integration.
- Supply Chain Resilience: Domestic aerogel production strengthens the UK’s supply chain, reducing reliance on international sources.
Project consortium:
- Thermulon
- Jaguar Land Rover
- CamMotive