SCREV Battery Construction
#33627 from Charles Sinkler · Not recommended · Minutes (2023-02 Fastrack)
Thank you for your letter. Improper assembly of cylindrical cells or individual pouch cells into modules/packs presents a unique
safety hazard, especially in electrified vehicles. The design, assembly, and manufacture of the pack or module requires
significant engineering design and quality control during assembly to ensure the safety of the pack or module electrical load and
use over time. This includes mechanical design, electrical isolation, thermal considerations, and cell connections to name a few.
In the case of an isolation breakdown or loose cell connection internal to the module or pack, the design and assembly of the
pack is critical as the Battery Management System/Insulating Measurement Device cannot stop the reaction that could lead to a
RESS/Battery Pack fire. Although the SCCA recognizes that some members may have the capacity to perform sufficient design
and quality assembly of cells to create a safe pack or module, the capacity to verify and inspect such as pack or module by on-
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track inspection or homologation is not practical at this time. Use of commercially available pack or modules provides an
opportunity for a competitor to design a custom energy store for their vehicle by leveraging the "built-in" engineering needed to
design and assembly the pack or module. This also simplifies the inspection needed of the custom energy store.
The EVAC has also surveyed various commercially available packs/modules and determined that custom assembly of cylindrical
cells or pouch cells is not required to build a competitive energy store for electrified vehicle in the various SCCA programs.