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Novel testing procedures and analytical methodologies to assess the performance of hybrid electric vehicle batteries have been developed. Tests include both characterization and cycle life and/or calendar life, and have been designed for both Power Assist and Dual Mode applications. Analytical procedures include a battery scaling methodology, the calculation of pulse resistance, pulse power, available energy, and differential capacity, and the modeling of calendar- and cycle-life data. Representative performance data and examples of the application of the analytical methodologies including resistance growth, power fade, and cycle- and calendar-life modeling for hybrid electric vehicle batteries are presented.

Advanced battery safety is of concern for the successful commercialization of these technologies. The USABC (United States Advanced Battery Consortium) and PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles) are developing high power battery systems for use in electric and hybrid/electric vehicle applications. Part of the objectives of these programs is to establish and verify testing procedures regarding the safety and abuse resistance of particular batteries or battery technologies. This paper will discuss the status of abuse testing procedures that have been developed for battery systems. The goal of these tests is to determine the extent to which defined abuse conditions contribute to venting, rupture, release of hazardous substances, fire, smoke or uncontrolled energy releases. Areas of abuse testing that have been identified are (1) mechanical, (2) electrical, and (3) thermal.

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and Executive Order 12759 have provided a significant boost to plans for the development and use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). While the federal initiatives require the use of substantial numbers of alternative fuel vehicles nationwide in both government and private fleets, there is still a great deal to learn about the development, maturation, and use of alternative fuels and vehicles-vehicle durability, reliability and performance, fuel composition and purity requirements, emission characteristics, fuel availability and storage, and a host of other technology and infrastructure issues. There is a need and an opportunity to identify and prioritize the short-term and long-term technology and human factors issues to be addressed.