Johnson Controls has announced two multiyear research projects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW–Madison) aimed at enhancing the fuel efficiency of start-stop and next-generation battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
Johnson Controls says it will provide the funding, including a Fellows gift of $500,000, and asserts that UW-Madison graduate students Jacob Dubie and Kevin Frankforter will carry out the projects.
“We are bringing together students and the world’s best energy storage and powertrain engineers to tackle challenges in advancing vehicle technology,” says MaryAnn Wright, group vice president of industry relations at Johnson Controls Power Solutions. “The results will help future vehicle technology to deliver optimum performance and environmental efficiency.”
According to the company, the first project will focus on identifying the aging mechanisms of absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries and supporting systems in start-stop applications and vehicle optimization strategies. Johnson Controls says that start-stop technology can provide up to 5% more fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, considering that the BEV’s electrical system draws energy from the AGM battery when the engine is off to power all electrical loads.
The second Fellows project will explore opportunities to leverage other energy storage devices to provide peak power acceptance and cycling capability, aiming to inspire technology breakthroughs in energy storage efficiency.
The research will be conducted at the Johnson Controls Energy Systems Laboratory at the Wisconsin Energy Institute and at the advanced battery laboratories at UW–Milwaukee donated by Johnson Controls.
