Castrol’s JV to Accelerate Ultra-Fast Battery Charging
Castrol has entered a collaboration with a battery cell manufacturer in a bid to develop ultra-fast charging batteries to advance the adoption of zero tailgate emission vehicles.
The lubricants specialist has teamed up with Sprint Power are on a project to develop the cells and battery packs for BEVs and fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. Two Sprint Power designed battery modules that will use Castrol ON EV Thermal Fluids that claim to accept an 80% charge in just twelve minutes.
The collaboration between Castrol and Sprint Power is the result of Project CELERITAS, a consortium that also includes BMW, AMTE Power, Clas-SiC and Eltrium.
UK-based Sprint Power uses technology that also includes an integrated 800V to 14V DC/DC converter, an 800V Battery Management System (BMS), and ‘direct cooling’ capabilities, where the cells are immersed in a non-conductive cooling solution. Castrol’s thermal fluid has been formulated specifically for direct cooling applications allowing battery systems to be charged more rapidly and offer increased performance and protection.
Castrol’s high-tech battery test cell facility will be used to test the working prototypes from early 2023 to help ensure they offer the performance, durability and safety required. The facility has the capability to test battery packs in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius, and up to a peak of 1,200 Vdc and 600 kW. The technology is showcased this week Cenex-LCV, an event that aims to position the UK as a leader in low carbon technology development, at the Millbrook Proving Ground near Bedford from 7 to 8 September.
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
