This course provides an exploration of battery technologies, from fundamental principles to advanced applications. Students will gain comprehensive insight into battery types, design, modelling, and management, covering key chemistries, performance metrics, and efficiency considerations. The course also examines battery materials, cell design, testing, ageing, and thermal management, with an introduction to battery management systems (BMS).

2 x 1 hour lecture for 10 weeks (20 hours of lecture in total)

3-hour lab sessions, 4 times per semester

4 x 1 hour tutorial per semester

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■ 50% Written Examination -

■ The 2 out of 4 questions format is preferred.

■ The suggested exam duration is 1 hour.

■ The exam is planned as an in-person on-campus exam.

■ 50% Written Assignment - The written assignment include: 

■ Lab reports (15%),

■ Technical essay (15%), on modern battery technologies 

■ Group design activities (20%), including presentation on practical/theoretical knowledge.

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

The aims of this course are to:

■ Develop an appreciation for the type, range and design of batteries;

■ Develop a detailed appreciation of the battery parts in the context of materials;

■ Develop a detailed appreciation of battery management system principles and operation.

■ Develop skills in battery modelling.

■ Provide participants with an appreciation for the product lifecycle of batteries including ageing and degradation mechanism; 

■ Provide participants with a practical appreciation of battery technological concepts in terms of the design, management, manufacturing, and recycling.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically appraise diverse battery types and technologies, including lithium, post-lithium, and emerging alternatives, examining their advantages across applications such as consumer electronics, electric vehicles, transportation systems (e-aircraft), and stationary energy storage.

■ Formulate and apply advanced mathematical models to analyse battery properties, performance characteristics, and aging mechanisms.

■ Design, optimize, and assess battery management systems for a range of applications, integrating state estimation, health diagnostics, and control strategies to enhance reliability and efficiency.

■ Compare, substantiate, and justify battery technologies against other energy storage systems in terms of power quality, cost, and efficiency, using advanced testing and evaluation methodologies.