PROOF-OF-CONCEPT ZINC/BROMINE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY

At the inception of the contract, Johnson Controls acquired and tested the zinc/bromine battery design developed by Exxon Research and Engineering Corporation (the Z-design) and, with Exxon, determined the key problems in this design: expansion and warping of electrodes, leaking of electrolyte from the battery stack, and excessive self-discharge brought about by transfer of bromine across the separator. The problems of electrode expansion and high self-discharge were mitigated by developing improved electrode and separator materials. Starting in the second year of the contract, JCI developed a new V-design battery stack which used different hardware and tooling to address the problem of stack leakage. The V-design uses thermal welding to achieve a hermetically sealed construction. The flow distribution is improved, and the massive endblocks of the original system have been replaced by thinner, lighter endblocks which are stiffened by means of rigid aluminum honeycomb inserts. Highlights of performance characteristics of batteries built and tested under the contract given. The battery was developed for the ETX-II, a Ford Aerostar minivan.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted.
• Corporate Authors:

  Sandia National Laboratories

  P.O. Box 5800
  Albuquerque, NM  United States  87185
• Authors:
  • Bolsted, J
  • Eidler, P
  • MILES, R
  • Petersen, R
  • Yaccarino, K
• Publication Date: 1991-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 108 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bromine; Development; Electric vehicles; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Expansion; Research; Separators; Warpage; Zinc
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development; Warping
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Pavements; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00619616
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAND-91-7029
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 29 1992 12:00AM