2023

The expansion of electromobility poses new challenges for the infrastructure: Charging stations for vehicle batteries must be properly integrated into the already existing stationary power grid. What is needed is a holistic charging concept for different types of vehicles. In the joint project eMobiGrid, three medium-sized companies, the University of Bayreuth and Fraunhofer IISB are collaborating to develop practical solutions to accelerate electromobility and integrate sustainable energies. eMobiGrid is funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) within the framework of the "BMDV Electromobility Funding Guideline" with around three million euros. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ). (Press release in German)

Das Verbundvorhaben INNOBATT verfolgt einen neuartigen und ganzheitlichen Ansatz für anwendungsspezifische Batteriespeicher, der die komplette Wertschöpfungskette vom Grundmaterial bis zum späteren Recycling berücksichtigt. Ziel des Konsortiums aus Wissenschaft und Industrie ist die gemeinsame Entwicklung eines nachhaltigen und intelligenten elektrischen Speichersystems, das von vornherein auf ressourcenschonende Herstellung, herausragende Betriebssicherheit und einfache Wiederverwertbarkeit ausgelegt ist. Ausgangspunkt ist die kostengünstige Zellchemie der Aluminium-Ionen-Batterie (AIB), die mit nicht entflammbaren Materialien arbeitet und auf kritische Rohstoffe verzichtet. Das Projekt INNOBATT wird vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) im Rahmen des Programms „Batterie2020Transfer“ gefördert.

In 2022, our Materials Department succeeded in growing an aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal with a diameter of 43 mm in technology-relevant quality. Now Dr. Elke Meißner and her team from the Nitride Materials group have taken the next step and processed the first 1-inch AlN wafers from this crystal.

Local and decentralized controlled DC grids offer many advantages compared to the conventional public AC grid. In our new IISB Insights Video, Bernd Wunder, Group Manager DC Grids, gives an introduction into our various DC activities.

At ETH Zurich (Switzerland), students equipped a 4-seat aircraft with a battery electric powertrain as part of a student focus project. The E-Sling completed its first flight in Dübendorf, Switzerland, on September 19, 2022. To electrify a Sling-TSi, the combustion engine was removed and replaced by a modular battery system that stores 44 kWh of energy and achieves a range of up to 200 km. This modular battery system is monitored and controlled with the foxBMS® battery management system developed by Fraunhofer IISB. The safe and well documented architecture of foxBMS® enabled the Swiss student team to reach flight approval from the Swiss federal office of civil aviation (BAZL).