Teaching Energy Storages by means of a Student Battery Cell Test System

Energy storage systems are vital for success of electric mobility. Thus, knowledge of energy storage systems behaviours is essential for the development of electric vehicles. Universities and vocational training institutions are urgently required to educate specialists in electrical storage systems. A safe and easy-manageable battery test system was developed to improve the outcomes of student learning of battery storage systems and to allow practice for future employment through hands-on laboratory training. This test system supports temperature-dependent experiments with different cell types including lithium-ion cells, and incorporates a redundant safety shut-off module that protects students from being injured. Based on this system, a new energy storage laboratory course was developed. This course covers four main content areas of battery energy storage: (1) contact & isolation resistance, (2) open-circuit voltage, (3) internal resistance & power, and (4) energy of cells. This new laboratory course was introduced in summer 2016 and has already been conducted with several full-time and part-time student groups.