Feature: Batteries


In an era where cross-industry


collaboration is becoming increasingly important, bringing different sectors together and encouraging the exchange of knowledge and resources are essential


with battery specialist E.Battery Systems (EBS) to create a high-capacity battery with efficient cooling. The “C factor” in batteries is a crucial concept that measures the rate at which a battery can safely charge and discharge its stored energy over time. This quantifies the amount of current – typically expressed as a multiple of the battery’s capacity – that the battery can handle without damage or overheating. For instance, if a battery has a capacity rating of 1C, it means it can discharge its entire capacity in one hour. Conversely, a battery with a rating of 2C can discharge at twice the rate.


A higher C factor is crucial for high-


power applications like electric marine propulsion, but most battery concepts operate at 2C. Here, an 80kWh battery provides 160kW of continuous power, which may not be enough for high- power demands. Therefore, Ed-TEC required a 5C rating or higher for significant power output. According to the International Boat Industry, a high- capacity battery with efficient cooling is being designed in partnership with EBS, using oil cooling via a heat exchanger to enable a higher C factor without causing hot spots in cell bonding.


Industry ecosystem In 2014, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba went public in what was the largest initial public offering in history. Analysts like IDC reviewed Alibaba’s prospectus, and found that the document repeating the term “ecosystems” over 150 times, indicating that it plays a crucial role in Alibaba’s strategy. An industry ecosystem is the network of organisations involved in the delivery


www.electronicsworld.co.uk June 2024 43


of a specific product or service through both competition and cooperation. In separate research, IDC has


also found that 60% of worldwide organisations have identified industry ecosystems as priority investments, to ensure long-term resilience and success. For example, MISUMI, a well- known manufacturer and distributor of mechanical parts, launched a platform called “meviy” to accelerate and streamline the procurement process for original, non-standardised parts. This innovative ecosystem allows customers to upload 3D data for their parts, which the system’s AI then analyses to understand the shape, check production requirements and instantly provide a price and quote. What’s more, the flexibility and


efficiency of meviy has allowed MISUMI to collaborate with other companies to meet the growing demand for custom parts production. For instance, MISUMI’s partnership with Protolabs,


a leader in rapid prototyping, allows a quick turnaround on prototype parts, which is crucial for product development and innovation. MISUMI continues to add new features


to meviy through these cooperations, like that with Toyota, a major automotive manufacturer and heavy user of the platform. Toyota allows MISUMI valuable insights into the requirements of the automotive sector, which further improves the platform’s functionality to offer ever-enhanced features and to meet industry standards.


Bringing different sectors together In an era where cross-industry collaboration is becoming increasingly important, bringing different sectors together and encouraging the exchange of knowledge and resources are essential. Thankfully, trade shows act as the bridge to bringing this expertise together in one space. Events like Advanced Engineering play a crucial role in fostering collaboration across industries since they provide a platform where professionals from various sectors can unite to share knowledge and build partnerships. Events like these facilitate interactions


that might otherwise not occur, and which often lead to long-lasting relationships that lay the foundations to tackle complex challenges and create a more advanced future.


[Image by Kumpan Electric for Unsplash]


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