Structural composites embedded with lithium polymer batteries

Structural battery composites that concurrently carry load and store electric energy will transform future vehicles. They can replace inert structural components and simultaneously provide supplementary power for light load applications. Rechargeable lithium polymer battery cells are embedded into carbon fire/epoxy matrix composite laminates, which are then tested under tension and three-point bending to investigate the mechanical and electrical performances of structural batteries. The experimental results show that the integration of battery cells into composite laminates has negligible impact on the mechanical strengths of the composite structures. Furthermore, the battery cells remain 95% effective at loads up to about 60% of the ultimate flexural failure load and 50% of the ultimate tensile failure load.