Should EV batteries be made out of non-cell materials?

Individual materials have been developed to mitigate the potential for thermal propagation, but — as with any non-cell material — incorporating them into EV battery construction diminishes the energy density of the pack.

What are the benefits of foam insulating a cell?

The foam is engineered to be heat-absorbent and flame-resistant, protecting adjacent cells from going exothermic and helping to mitigate the propagation of a thermal event from one cell to another. It is also electrically insulating, preventing arcing within modules. Typical properties include:

Why is TRP foam a good thermal insulator?

The foam’s low compression set value also translates to the ability to resist permanent deformation under compressive loads. At the same time, the foam serves not only as a temperature-resistant thermal insulator, but as a thermal runaway protector as well — hence the “TRP” referenced in the name of the product line.

What makes dielectric foam a good elastomer?

In the place of vulnerable elastomer materials are dielectric foams engineered with a predictable compression force deflection (CFD). This allows them to deliver consistent return energy over a wide range of compression amounts and temperatures throughout battery pack life.

Should you design an EV battery for extreme conditions?

As a result, designing an EV battery for extreme conditions tends to force a choice: opting for maximum energy density and performance or ensuring safety. This is the sort of trade-off no manufacturer should ever have to face.