Chalmers University researchers develop battery design to extend EV lifespan

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a reconfigurable battery architecture designed to extend the lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) battery packs by more than 20 percent.

In conventional battery packs, cells are connected in a fixed configuration. Because individual cells degrade at different rates, a single weakened cell can limit the charging and discharging capabilities of the entire pack. The new design utilizes electronic switches and advanced software to allow a battery management system to automatically bypass aging or underperforming cells. This allows the remaining healthy cells to continue functioning, maximizing the usable capacity of the pack.

According to computer simulations published in Nature Communications, this approach does not require new battery chemistry but instead relies on innovations in power electronics. In a modeled 80-kilowatt-hour battery, the system could potentially delay the need for a full battery replacement by approximately 14 months. While the results are based on simulations rather than long-term physical testing in production vehicles, the researchers suggest that the increased service life and higher residual value could offset the added cost of the electronic components.