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UL Solutions has inaugurated a new battery enclosure material screening (BEMS) laboratory in Ise, Mie, Japan, to bolster electric vehicle (EV) battery safety. This facility will aid automotive manufacturers in developing lighter and safer battery enclosures, a vital component in EV safety.
Key Highlights:
- Location: Ise, Mie, Japan
- Purpose: To enhance EV battery safety by testing various materials for battery enclosures.
- Significance: The lab is the second of its kind by UL Solutions, with the first being in Northbrook, Illinois.
Battery enclosures are crucial for protecting EV occupants. The materials used must withstand battery fires or thermal runaway events. This new lab is expected to accelerate research and development in the region, leading to safer batteries reaching the market faster.
Hidehiko Yamajo, regional vice president of Japan at UL Solutions, highlighted the importance of the new lab, stating: “Manufacturers in the automotive industry are investing in researching and developing lighter batteries to extend electric vehicle range and stay competitive while keeping occupant safety at the forefront.”
The Ise BEMS Laboratory will help regional customers by enabling them to test battery enclosure materials under various stress conditions, such as thermal runaway. This event can occur in lithium-ion batteries when the internal temperature reaches a critical level, potentially causing fires, smoke, and extreme heat.
The lab will use UL Solutions Battery Enclosure Thermal Runaway (BETR) evaluations and the Torch and Grit (TaG) test method. BETR simulates thermal runaway scenarios, testing material plaques against the entire battery assembly using lithium-ion battery cells. This approach reduces testing costs and development time. The TaG method incorporates small-scale testing, simulating high temperatures and mechanical impacts during a thermal runaway event, and ranks materials accordingly.
This facility is part of UL Solutions’ broader expansion of its mobility and new energy technology facilities in Japan. The Ise Campus already hosts laboratories for safety, EMC, reliability testing, and a CHAdeMO EV-Quick Charger Matching Center.
For more information on UL Solutions’ battery enclosure material screening services, visit their website.
About UL Solutions
UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) is a global leader in applied safety science, transforming safety, security, and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in over 100 countries. The company provides testing, inspection, certification services, software products, and advisory offerings to support product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark is a symbol of trust in customer products, reflecting a commitment to advancing safety. UL Solutions aids customers in innovating, launching new products, navigating global markets and supply chains, and growing sustainably and responsibly. Their science is your advantage.
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