High-Capacity Battery Research and Test Laboratory

The 540 square foot High-Capacity Battery Research and Test Laboratory is located in the Engineering Building on the campus of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. It was established in 2010 with major support from the National Science Foundation under the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI: Acquisition of High-Power Energy Storage System Test Equipment) and with additional support from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

The laboratory has facilities to perform tests on high-capacity cells (such as might be used in hybrid and electric vehicles), modules of such cells, and full-sized battery packs. These capabilities are briefly itemized herein.

Cell Testing

• Four Arbin BT-2000 cell cyclers (5V measurement capabilities)
  • 2 independent channels at ±200A each (may be connected in parallel for single channel at ±400A)
  • 8 independent channels at ±100 A each
  • 8 independent channels at ±50 A each
  • 30 independent channels at ±20 A each
  • 32 independent channels at ±15 A each
  • Software allows equipment to be used for OCV testing, characterization of cell dynamics, drive-cycle simulation, life testing, and others
• Three Gamry Reference 3000 galvanostat/potentiostat units, with three power-booster units; one Gamry Interface 5000 unit.
  • Allows constant-current, constant-voltage, pulse, and EIS testing at amplitudes up to 30 A per channel (can be placed in parallel for amplitudes up to 90 A total).
• Four Cincinnati Sub Zero 1.2 ft³ thermal chambers, –73ºC to 190ºC
• Three Tenney T2C 2.0 ft³ thermal chambers, –75ºC to 200ºC

Module Testing

• AeroVironment MT-30 module cycler (120V maximum module voltage)
• One channel at ±330A; a second independent channel at ±170A (may be connected in parallel for single channel at ±500A, max 30kW)
• Equipment may be controlled by RS-232 or CAN
• Data logging of BMS RS-232 and CAN data
• Highly programmable for custom test requirements
• Three Cincinnati Sub Zero 8 ft³ thermal chambers, –45ºC to 190ºC

Pack Testing

• AeroVironment ABC-170 pack cycler (445V maximum pack voltage)
• Two independent channels at –320A to +265A (may be connected in parallel for single channel with range –640A to +530A, max 170 kW)
• Equipment may be controlled by RS-232 or CAN
• Data logging of BMS RS-232 and CAN data
• Highly programmable for custom test requirements
• One Cincinnati Sub Zero 32 ft³ thermal chamber, –45ºC to 190ºC

Facility Use

If you wish to obtain more information with regards to our facility, or if you are interested in using its services, please send an email message to Dr. Gregory L. Plett.

Funding

The High-Capacity Battery Research and Test Laboratory was established in 2010 with major support from the National Science Foundation under the Major Research Instrumentation Program (“MRI: Acquisition of High-Power Energy Storage System Test Equipment, ECCS 0922486”) and with additional support from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.