UL Solutions Opens Battery Enclosure Material Screening Laboratory in Japan, Helping Advance EV Battery Safety
UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) has opened a new battery enclosure material screening (BEMS) laboratory in Ise, Mie, Japan, aimed at enhancing electric vehicle (EV) battery safety. This facility will allow automotive manufacturers to test and compare various materials for battery enclosures, important for preventing battery fires and thermal runaway events. The lab will employ advanced methods like the Battery Enclosure Thermal Runaway (BETR) evaluations and Torch and Grit (TaG) test method. This marks UL Solutions' second BEMS lab, furthering its commitment to advancing EV safety and supporting the automotive industry in developing lighter and safer batteries.
- Opening of new BEMS lab advances EV battery safety.
- Facility supports regional R&D efforts for safer batteries.
- Use of BETR and TaG methods enhances material testing accuracy.
- Lab aids in producing lighter batteries, extending EV range.
- Potential high costs associated with setting up new lab infrastructure.
- No immediate revenue generation from the new facility mentioned.
Insights
UL Solutions' new laboratory in Ise, Japan signifies a major step forward in enhancing EV battery safety, addressing a critical component of electric vehicle performance and consumer confidence. As EV batteries are prone to thermal runaway events, where internal temperatures spike leading to possible fires or explosions, the need for rigorous material testing becomes indispensable.
Thermal runaway is a serious issue, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, which power most EVs. The laboratory's testing methods, such as Battery Enclosure Thermal Runaway (BETR) evaluations and Torch and Grit (TaG) tests, will provide important data on how different materials withstand these extreme conditions. This could lead to the development of safer, more resilient battery enclosures, enhancing overall vehicle safety.
For retail investors, this development not only highlights UL Solutions' commitment to advancing battery safety but also underscores the growing complexity and importance of EV battery technology. By implementing rigorous safety standards like UL 2596, the company is positioning itself as a leader in ensuring the safety and reliability of electric vehicles—a market that is poised for substantial growth.
The opening of UL Solutions' new laboratory has significant implications for the automotive industry, particularly in the context of the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. The facility will enable manufacturers to conduct thorough material testing, thus speeding up R&D timelines and reducing costs.
This is particularly important because the EV industry is highly competitive, with manufacturers racing to produce vehicles that offer longer range and enhanced safety. By providing a reliable and standardized way to test battery enclosure materials, UL Solutions is helping manufacturers to meet these demands more efficiently. This could result in quicker time-to-market for safer, more durable EVs.
For investors, this move strengthens UL Solutions' position in the market for EV safety and materials testing. As the demand for electric vehicles grows, so too will the need for comprehensive safety testing, making this a potentially lucrative area for the company.
The new UL Solutions laboratory in Ise, Mie,
UL Solutions opened a new battery enclosure material screening laboratory in Ise, Mie,
Battery enclosures help protect EV occupants, and the materials the enclosures are made of play a critical safety role in case of a battery fire or what is known as a thermal runaway event. As the second UL Solutions facility with BEMS testing capabilities, following the company’s headquarters in
“Manufacturers in the automotive industry are investing in researching and developing lighter batteries to extend electric vehicle range and stay competitive while keeping occupant safety at the forefront,” said Hidehiko Yamajo, regional vice president of
EV batteries typically cover the entire base of a vehicle. Materials used to house these batteries must be tested to determine their ability to withstand thermal runaway stresses. Thermal runaway is a chain reaction that can occur in lithium-ion batteries when the internal temperature of a battery cell reaches a critical level. It can produce fire, smoke and extremely high temperatures. UL Solutions BEMS offerings evaluate the performance of battery enclosure materials in a thermal runaway event, outlined under UL 2596, the Standard for Test Method for Thermal and Mechanical Performance of Battery Enclosure Materials.
The new UL Solutions BEMS laboratory is expected to help the automotive industry protect EV occupants with capabilities to conduct UL Solutions Battery Enclosure Thermal Runaway (BETR) evaluations and employ the UL Solutions Torch and Grit (TaG) test method.
- BETR evaluates material performance by simulating a thermal runaway scenario. The evaluations entail testing material plaques versus the entire battery assembly using lithium-ion battery cells (18650 type), reducing testing costs and development time for resin manufacturers and material suppliers.
- TaG incorporates small-scale testing and simulates high temperatures and mechanical impact stresses in a battery thermal runaway event, and ranks materials for battery enclosures.
The opening of this new testing facility in Ise is part of UL Solutions’ expansion of its mobility and new energy technology facilities in
Learn more about UL Solutions battery enclosure material screening services.
About UL Solutions
A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 100 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.
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Tyler Khan
UL Solutions
ULNews@UL.com
T: +1 (847) 664.2139
Steven Brewster
UL Solutions
ULNews@UL.com
T: +1 (847) 664.8425
Source: UL Solutions
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