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Sweden

Chalmers researchers model reconfigurable EV battery packs that bypass weak cells

By Eve

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, working with PHINIA and Scania, have published a study in Nature Communications assessing reconfigurable battery packs that use switches and control systems to bypass weak cells. The modelling shows that controlling each cell separately could extend battery life by over 20% in high voltage vehicles such as electric trucks and long range cars, though in practice groups of cells are more likely to be controlled together. The study examined an 80 kWh battery in a car driven 12,000 km per year.

Why it matters

Extended battery life directly reduces total cost of ownership for fleet operators and could influence procurement decisions for electric trucks and long range vehicles. The technology, developed with commercial partners PHINIA and Scania, may shape future battery pack specifications and maintenance strategies in the charging infrastructure ecosystem.

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