To support the development of next generation battery systems, the BATSS consortium has created a downscaled battery module that brings together the project’s key innovations in a compact, practical format. Designed, built, and tested during this development phase, the module provides a representative version of the final systems envisioned for each use case while ensuring a safe, controlled platform for validation.
This achievement marks an important bridge between concept and reality, enabling partners to evaluate performance, test safety measures, and refine modelling tools ahead of full scale implementation.
The challenge: validating advanced battery concepts
Developing a novel battery architecture demands far more than theoretical design. New concepts must be thoroughly assessed under real operating conditions, both electrically and thermally, to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and durability.
However, testing full scale systems at an early stage can be costly, complex, and unnecessary before fundamental behaviours are well understood. A scalable, experimental platform is therefore essential to validate the system architecture and guide the next development steps.
The innovation: a representative, safe by design module
The BATSS downscaled module integrates the core features of the project’s proposed architecture within a smaller, more manageable prototype. While not intended for operational deployment, it accurately reflects the design principles of the final system.
Key characteristics include:
- Safe by design principles, ensuring controlled testing and built in protection measures.
- Fire prevention strategies, supporting the project’s emphasis on enhanced safety.
- A combination of cell to pack and modular design concepts, demonstrating innovative structural approaches.
- A cost effective component selection, appropriate for research and validation activities.
This balance of fidelity and practicality makes the module an ideal platform for rigorous testing without the constraints or risks associated with full scale prototypes.
The impact: supporting modelling, validation, and system optimisation
The downscaled module plays a central role in the project’s experimental characterisation campaign. Its development is closely linked to cell level investigations, spanning:
Together, these tests provide the data needed to develop and validate a 0D electrothermal model capable of predicting performance across the entire system. This modelling framework will help refine design choices, optimise system behaviour, and support future scaling to full size modules.
By acting as a reference point between laboratory characterisation and the eventual demonstrators, the module strengthens the reliability and applicability of the BATSS architecture in real world scenarios.
Next steps
With the downscaled module developed and successfully tested, upcoming efforts will focus on integrating additional system components, validating electrothermal models, and transferring insights to the full scale prototypes. These steps will ensure that the final battery systems benefit from robust scientific understanding and proven design principles.
Do not miss the complete framework of the BATSS results! This is the third article of the BATSS results series; take a look at the first BATSS results article and the second of these series.
