Abstract

Thermal runaway is characterized by accelerating heat release inside a battery cell due to a series of uncontrollable exothermic reactions, manifesting as an uncontrolled increase in cell temperature. Top covers for battery packs in battery electric vehicles (BEV) have historically been produced from composite materials or, more commonly, formed steel sheets typically of thickness 0.6mm to 1.2mm, with an additional thermal barrier applied to aid in protecting passengers during a thermal runaway event. Recently, aluminum alloy sheets (also referred to herein as aluminum sheets) have been investigated for top cover applications as well. Because aluminum alloys have a higher thermal conductivity than steel, aluminum alloy top covers may demonstrate more efficient heat dispersion, keeping the battery cover cooler, thus reducing the risk to passengers within the vehicle during thermal runaway. Further, unlike steel, aluminum alloys do not strictly require an application of e‑coat to protect against corrosion. E-coat can be flammable, which presents additional danger in the event of a thermal runaway event.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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