Design of structural batteries: carbon fibers and alternative form factors

Abstract

With the advancing electrification of vehicles, structural battery composites play a pivotal role in increasing vehicle capacity and extending driving range through effective mass reduction, achieved by integrating multifunctional structures with loading-bearing and electrochemical energy storage capabilities. The mini review offers a summary of the current state of structural battery composites that encompasses carbon fibers reinforced within their matrix, as well as to introduce structural battery composites that are fabricated beyond using carbon fibers. Alternative chemistries used in fabricating structural battery composites apart from lithium/lithium-ion based chemistry are also presented. Issues pertaining to the selection of materials for structural battery composites are also discussed, as when practically incorporated into automotive applications, the overall structure becomes more demanding. Environmental adaptation, vibration isolation and especially crash safety of the structural battery composites are analyzed and discussed. With these objectives, the aim of this work is to demonstrate various forms of structural batteries and their potential configurations in this emerging field of research.