S A F E B AT T E R I E S
T
he topic is a proverbially hot one: again and again,
reports of electric vehicles starting on fi re haunt the
news. The topic of accumulators is becoming increas-
ingly explosive due to the enormous energy density required
and their use in everyday life on wheels. And with this also
come things like durability, permanent load, and safety. This
is why Phoenix Testlab in Blomberg is one of the very prime
addresses for the automotive industry.
“We’re making batteries old. And very quickly.” The person
saying that isn’t wearing a magic hat and doesn’t own a time
machine. Michael Jonca heads the battery laboratory at Phoe-
nix Testlab. Not only does he come across as extremely like-
able, but also as very respectable. So no hocus-pocus, but real
technologically pioneering work to tackle the energy sources
for e-vehicles.
The lords of time travel
“We’re making lithi-
um-ion batteries old.
Lasting far beyond the
service life of a vehicle.
And very quickly.”
Michael Jonca,
Head of the Battery Technology Test Laboratory
“Our job is to artifi cially age lithium-ion batteries in the pro-
totype stage. With our sophisticated test methods, we stress
The T-Shocker simulates
temperature drops – in
constant change from
-40°C to +75°C
View into the intermediate fl oor of a modern
electric delivery van with battery cells
36
UPDATE 4/20
The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine