Research, development, and demonstration of lead-acid batteries for electric-vehicle propulsion. Annual report, 1980

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6540219· OSTI ID:6540219

The first development effort in improving lead-acid batteries fore electric vehicles was the improvement of electric vehicle batteries using flat pasted positive plates and the second was for a tubular long life positive plate. The investigation of 32 component variables based on a flat pasted positive plate configuration is described. The experiment tested 96 - six volt batteries for characterization at 0, 25, and 40/sup 0/C and for cycle life capability at the 3 hour discharge rate with a one cycle, to 80% DOD, per day regime. Four positive paste formulations were selected. Two commercially available microporous separators were used in conjunction with a layer of 0.076 mm thick glass mat. Two concentrations of battery grade sulfuric acid were included in the test to determine if an increase in concentration would improve the battery capacity sufficient to offset the added weight of the more concentrated solution. Two construction variations, 23 plate elements with outside negative plates and 23 plate elements with outside positive plates, were included. The second development effort was an experiment designed to study the relationship of 32 component variables based on a tubular positive plate configuration. 96-six volt batteries were tested at various discharge rates at 0, 25, and 40/sup 0/C along with cycle life testing at 80% DOD of the 3 hour rate. 75 batteries remain on cycle life testing with 17 batteries having in excess of 365 life cycles. Preliminary conclusions indicate: the tubular positive plate is far more capable of withstanding deep cycles than is the flat pasted plate; as presently designed 40 Whr/kg can not be achieved, since 37.7 Whr/kg was the best tubular data obtained; electrolyte circulation is impaired due to the tight element fit in the container; and a redesign is required to reduce the battery weight which will improve the Whr/kg value. This redesign is complete and new molds have been ordered.

• Research Organization: Exide Management and Technology Co., Yardley, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6540219
• Report Number(s): ANL/OEPM-80-11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
25 ENERGY STORAGE
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
DESIGN
FABRICATION
PERFORMANCE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SULFURIC ACID
DATA
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
NUMERICAL DATA
VEHICLES
330300* - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems
250901 - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development