Bachelor and Master Theses

To apply for conducting this thesis, please contact the thesis supervisor(s).
Title: Design guidelines for the second-life of electric vehicle batteries
Subject: Produktutveckling, Innovation och design, Industriell ekonomi - Produktionssystem
Level: Advanced
Description:

Today electric vehicle (EV) batteries have been considered as enablers for creating new business opportunities in the form of second life applications. Potential second life applications include different kinds of stationary energy storage systems in industrial, residential, and commercial applications, providing services such as integration with solar panels and wind turbines, peak shaving, back-up power, energy arbitrage, demand-side response, fast charging, frequency response, asset optimization, grid services, mobile power for use in remote or temporary locations, and off grid backup. However, to enable battery second life, the batteries must design considering the aspects of second-life and the circularity. There are limited guidelines or framework to support the design for second life in industrial companies.

 

Purpose and Possible research questions.

The purpose of the thesis is to develop design guidelines framework for the second life of EV batteries. Based on literature and practice, the thesis can suggest the required design guidelines and requirements important for second-life applications. The thesis could apply design for x, circular design, eco-design, circular economy, and related areas to frame and analyse the topic. The thesis will be guided by following research questions:

  • How to design electric vehicle batteries for the second-life applications or circularity? 
  •  Which design requirements should be considered for batteries to enable second-life applications?
  •  What are the critical design guidelines to support the design process of battery second-life?

Research method and context.

The thesis employs qualitative case study research approach and data collection will be done through semi-structured interviews, workshops, observations, and documentation. In the initial phase, a systematic literature review will take place for understanding the existing knowledge, research gaps, and potential questions to ask in the study. The thesis work will be performed as part of the research project called RECREATE (Secondary life management of electric vehicle batteries), where partner companies include Volvo CE, Volvo Group Circular Operations, Alstom, Mälarenergi, Eskilstuna Strängnas & Miljö, and KPRO. More information is available at MDU webpage. The empirical data collected from partner companies during the thesis work will be used by the researchers in the Recreate project for further analysis. If there is any possibility for a research publication, you would be included as co-authors.

 

Other information.

Timeline: 6 months (from January 2023 until June 2023)

Number of Students: 1 or 2

Project is done at: RECREATE partner companies

 

If you are interested, you can contact, Koteshwar Chirumalla, Associate professor in product and production development, koteshwar.chirumalla@mdu.se

 

 

 

Start date: 2022-11-01
End date: 2023-06-30
Prerequisites:

Masters in Product development, or Innovation and Design, or Industrial Engineeing or Economics.

IDT supervisors: Koteshwar Chirumalla
Examiner:
Comments:

If you are interested, you can contact us:

Koteshwar Chirumalla, Associate professor in product and production development, Koteshwar.chirumalla@mdu.se.

 

The project will be performed in collaboration with Lund University with a professor in product development.

Company contact:

The thesis work will be performed as part of the research project called RECREATE (Secondary life management of electric vehicle batteries), where partner companies include Volvo CE, Volvo Group Circular Operations, Alstom, Mälarenergi, Eskilstuna Strängnas & Miljö, and KPRO.