The Dutycell project is being developed by the Energy, Transport and Materials research centre at the University, and aims to increase the amount of energy that batteries can store while reducing the charging time.

The project is initially targeting electric vehicles (EVs) that are being developed at a rapid pace and are becoming an increasingly viable option for industry and consumers alike.

Whilst significant progress in battery technology has been made, there are still two challenges to the uptake of EVs; range anxiety and the cost of EVs:

• Increasing the usable range of the battery can be used to increase the EV range and/or reduce the size and cost of the battery.
• Reducing the charging time can also help reduce range anxiety by providing quick charge options that can be used to improve the utilisation of charge points.

The project approach is to integrate a pulsed charging strategy, which uses high current pulses separated by short relaxation periods to help minimize degradation of the battery. This will increase the amount of energy that batteries can store whilst reducing the charging time. Currently, pulse chargers for EVs require new hardware, but the Sussex team will be implementing this system into the battery itself, using the CDO2 patented ‘flexible busbar’. This will allow the battery to be charged by a conventional charger.

The battery is the most expensive component of an EV and battery innovation is crucial to the transition to EVs.

By increasing the battery's charge capacity, the Sussex team is helping to increase the viability of EV ownership, accelerating the transition to a zero emission future.