NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Improved Battery Pack Thermal 

Management to Reduce Cost 

and Increase Energy Density

Cooperative Research and Development 

Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-12-499

NREL Technical Contact: Kandler Smith

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-5400-60477

October 2013
NOTICE

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors 

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge

Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy

and its contractors, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Scientific and Technical Information

P.O. Box 62

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062

phone: 865.576.8401

fax: 865.576.5728

email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.gov

Available for sale to the public, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

phone: 800.553.6847

fax: 703.605.6900

email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx

Cover Photos: (left to right) photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 16416, photo from SunEdison, NREL 17423, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 

16560, photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 17613, photo by Dean Armstrong, NREL 17436, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 17721.

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.
1

This report is available at no cost from the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI.A(3) of the CRADA document, this document is 

the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to the Office of Science 

and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to demonstrate results of federally 

funded research.

CRADA Number: CRD-12-499

CRADA Title: Improved Battery Pack Thermal Management to Reduce Cost and Increase 

Energy Density

Parties to the Agreement: Creare Incorporated

Joint Work Statement Funding Table Showing DOE Commitment:

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 00.00

Year 2 $ 00.00

Year 3 $ 00.00

TOTALS $ 00.00

Abstract of CRADA Work:

Under this CRADA NREL will support Creare’s project for the Department of Energy entitled “Improved 

Battery Pack Thermal Management to Reduce Cost and Increase Energy Density” which involves the 

development of an air-flow based cooling product that increases energy density, safety, and reliability of 

hybrid electric vehicle battery packs.

Summary of Research Results:

NREL and Creare performed analysis to establish battery thermal management system requirements for 

various electric drive vehicle battery packs utilizing low cost Li-ion pouch cell technology. Creare 

developed and demonstrated a prototype CrossFlow air-cooling technology reducing battery pack 

volume, mass, and peak temperatures experienced by the battery cells, enabling greater performance and 

lifetime from the battery.

Subject Inventions Listing: None

Report Date: 9/19/2013 Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL: Kandler Smith

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.