The Battery Lab is a research core facility at the University of Michigan that is available to industrial and academic users. It was established in 2015 as the nation’s first university-based battery cell pilot line. Initial support for the $9 million facility was provided by U-M, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., and Ford Motor Co.
The lab is part of the U-M Electric Vehicle Center in the College of Engineering.
Plans are underway for several rounds of expansion. The first, in 2024, will nearly double the lab’s square footage in an 8,000 sq. foot, off-campus space. That location will house a new pilot line and industry-leading, fully automated welding for modules and packs with the Manz BLS-500 laser system. Ultimately, and subject to approval by the Board of Regents, an expanded lab is slated to be a core aspect of the proposed teaching, training, and research facility under development through the new U-M EV Center.