Graz University researchers develop safer, more sustainable EV battery designs

Researchers involved in the E-Track project have developed new design guidelines for electric vehicle (EV) batteries aimed at improving safety, repairability, and sustainability. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Vehicle Safety Institute at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), the Institute of Environmental Systems Science at the University of Graz, and various industry partners.

Currently, a lack of uniform design standards complicates emergency responses and recycling efforts. Many manufacturers use bonded housings with thermally conductive pastes for temperature regulation, which facilitates production but often necessitates replacing an entire battery pack if damage occurs. The new guidelines seek to address these issues by integrating electrical performance, thermal behavior, and mechanical safety into a more cohesive design framework.

Project manager Markus Fasching noted that standardized designs would help emergency services better assess battery structures during accidents and prevent the loss of valuable resources by making batteries easier to repair and fully recycle.