To investigate the usefulness of highly configurable batteries using low-cost power electronics.

The main aims will be to investigate how highly configurable batteries can be used to decrease several shortfalls inherent in the way that hard-wired batteries are currently designed. These include cell imbalance, a large operating voltage range, capacity reduction dictated by the smallest capacity cell and the danger associated with the presence of high voltage during storage.

The methods I plan to use to accomplish these objectives include using commonly available mass-produced transistors in an array to enable the ability of a battery-pack to reconfigure into different series-parallel arrangements. Packaging these power electronics closely alongside the cells should allow the use of one cooling system, which would reduce the complexity of thermal regulation, increase energy density and remove the need for external power electronics.

Using physical and computational models of this system, I would explore different algorithms to accomplish cell balancing and constant voltage operation.

The expected outcomes of this research would be a novel method for creating a battery that can reconfigure its series-parallel configuration to achieve charge redistribution and constant voltage operation while retaining high current capabilities. This would include producing a high-power demonstrator capable of charging from a fixed DC voltage at high currents using Nyobolt's cells.