RWTH Aachen University’s Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) is spearheading advancements in lithium-ion battery manufacturing through the “InForm” project. This initiative, in collaboration with three other leading institutes, aims to enhance battery production using artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization. By integrating intelligent forming systems, the project seeks to accelerate production, lower costs, and improve the overall quality of lithium-ion batteries. The research focuses on optimizing the final stages of battery formation, where critical properties such as performance, safety, and longevity are established.
A central objective of the project is to develop two intelligent optimization circuits that actively influence the formation process using AI-driven physicochemical models. This approach will allow for the production of customized batteries with improved electrical properties and service life, all while reducing processing time. The formation stage, which involves charging and discharging battery cells for the first time, is a crucial but time-consuming and costly step. Current processes require significant investment in large-scale storage and testing facilities, but the project aims to streamline these operations for greater efficiency.
Traditionally, battery quality assessment occurs at the end of the formation and maturation stages, often leading to high reject rates and wasted resources. The “InForm” project, however, introduces an innovative solution by incorporating online measurement technology and AI-driven diagnostics. This allows for earlier identification of defective cells, thereby reducing material and energy waste. The project will employ techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ultrasound measurements, the latter being an emerging method in battery research. If successful, these advancements could revolutionize the industry by enabling real-time quality assessments and significantly enhancing the scalability of battery production.
