energy saving

Avid Technology joins with Caterpillar UK and ICL to develop new battery storage system

Cleantech engineering firm Avid Technology has joined forces with Caterpillar UK and Imperial College London (ICL) to develop a new £2.8 million battery storage system for electric off-highway machinery.
Avid Technology joins with Caterpillar UK and ICL to develop new battery storage system

The project is part-funded by Innovate UK's Faraday Challenge Industrial Strategy Fund and will see the consortium working together to significantly improve battery life through advanced controls, monitoring and thermal management. The overall aim is to create an advanced battery system capable of meeting the life cycle and load demands of a heavy duty electric or hybrid vehicle, whilst still delivering the high levels of energy density required.

Utilising sophisticated simulation techniques, the team will also demonstrate that integrated powertrain systems utilising battery storage can be commercially viable for electric and hybrid vehicles in the commercial on-highway as well as off-highway sectors.

“We are excited to be working with Caterpillar and Avid Technology on developing the next generation of advanced battery packs for industrial machinery and heavy duty on road vehicles” said Dr Gregory Offer from Imperial College London. “The project will bring together multiple innovative ideas to deliver a step change in performance and cost for these aggressive applications, helping to develop the UK supply chain and create a world class battery industry in the UK.”

Ryan Maughan, managing director of Avid Technology Group Ltd added that in recent years there have been major advances in energy storage driven in part by the boom in the automotive sector for electric and hybrid passenger cars. This has resulted in huge improvements in energy density and crucially cost. However the emissions and environmental impact of heavy duty vehicles such as trucks, buses and construction machinery is far greater due to the high operating hours and power factors required. This means there is huge potential for the design and manufacture of electrification systems to improve the situation, but it also presents several challenges in delivering electric vehicle drive trains that are robust enough and able to deliver the performance required.

Avid’s core expertise lies in the design of power electronics and motors used in electric propulsion systems for the electric and hybrid vehicle industry, robotics and aerospace sectors. The company has significant experience in the design of battery and thermal management systems.

To meet increasing demand for automotive electronics and powertrain technology, Avid has invested over £2 million in its Northumberland HQ since 2017, extending its range of services and expanding its research and manufacturing capabilities. This includes a new state-of-the art surface mount electronics manufacturing facility and new test equipment.

For additional information:

Avid Technology

Caterpillar UK

Imperial College London

Baterías con premio en la gran feria europea del almacenamiento de energía
El jurado de la feria ees (la gran feria europea de las baterías y los sistemas acumuladores de energía) ya ha seleccionado los productos y soluciones innovadoras que aspiran, como finalistas, al gran premio ees 2021. Independientemente de cuál o cuáles sean las candidaturas ganadoras, la sola inclusión en este exquisito grupo VIP constituye todo un éxito para las empresas. A continuación, los diez finalistas 2021 de los ees Award (ees es una de las cuatro ferias que integran el gran evento anual europeo del sector de la energía, The smarter E).