21_FFG_BioLIB - Biobased Multifunctional Laminates in Batteryhousings

In order to increase the range of electric vehicles, the weight of batteries must be reduced and the available space in the underbody between the subframe and the rear axle must be used in the best possible way. Aluminium as a material for battery housings has a high potential for lightweight construction, but is disadvantageous in terms of fire protection, costs and ecological footprint during production. One approach to reducing the weight, installation space and costs of batteries is functional integration, i.e. that components take over several multiphysical functions: Thermoregulation, vibration damping, impact energy dissipation, fire protection, electromagnetic shielding, ... By combining wood and steel in a battery casing, favourable structural-mechanical and thermal properties of both materials can complement each other and can therefore be exploited. The project Bio!LIB aims to demonstrate that the combination of these materials can provide (1) excellent temperature management, (2) crash performance, (3) vibration damping, (4) thermal propagation containment (at a level of state-of-the-art enclosures and beyond) in combination with (5) low costs and low weight and (6) a small ecological footprint. This is demonstrated by means of a segment (in module or cell stack size) of a battery housing. Aspects of connection, manufacturing technology, increased durability through wood modification, material separation and recycling are also investigated.