位(wei)于俄克拉荷馬城的(de)Cox Automotive電(dian)池解(jie)決(jue)方案(an)中(zhong)心正在處理一家OEM召(zhao)回的(de)電(dian)池,并由一名電(dian)池技術人(ren)員負責登記入庫(ku)。(Cox Automotive)
回收(shou)室的技(ji)術(shu)人員穿戴著(zhu)高度防護(hu)(hu)的全封閉防護(hu)(hu)服、頭盔和(he)呼吸面罩,因(yin)為在粉碎電池的過(guo)程中會(hui)產生潛(qian)在的有害空氣微粒。(Cox Automotive)
雖然(ran)處理的是高(gao)科技電動(dong)汽車(che)電池,但(dan)回收過程是機械性(xing)的,相對簡(jian)單。部件會不斷被(bei)粉(fen)碎,并被(bei)分類(lei)為(wei)成分材料和黑色物質。(Cox Automotive)
位于(yu)俄克拉荷馬城的Cox Automotive電池解決方案(an)中心(xin)可以滿足OEM的整(zheng)套(tao)售后需求。
位(wei)于(yu)俄克(ke)拉荷馬(ma)城(cheng)的(de)(de)Cox Automotive電動(dong)車(che)電池解決方案中心已成為電動(dong)車(che)電池研究(jiu)、維修、再(zai)制造(zao)和回收的(de)(de)首選之地。Cox Automotive是(shi)一家(jia)坐擁凱利藍皮書二手(shou)車(che)評估(gu)(KBB)、Autotrader二手(shou)車(che)交(jiao)易平臺和美瀚(Manheim)拍賣公司等著名品牌的(de)(de)大型(xing)企業集團。
許多電動車購買者都不曾想過電池還能得到維修。當這些復雜度接近于生物體的動力電池出現問題,經銷商的傳統維修技術人員往往難以輕松解決。這時候就輪到Cox Automotive的“速派醫生(Flying Doctors)”團隊出場了,他們既可到現場親自維修,也可全程指導經銷商的技術人員進行維修。
Cox Automotive的EV電(dian)池解(jie)決方案部門(men)副總裁Lea Malloy表示,電(dian)池解(jie)決方案業務(wu)已開展了(le)11年(nian),其前身是(shi)2021年(nian)被Cox Automotive收購的初(chu)創公司(si)Spiers New Technologies。目前該(gai)中心(xin)是(shi)“覆(fu)蓋電(dian)池全生(sheng)命(ming)周(zhou)期的首個(ge)及唯一(yi)的一(yi)站式服務(wu)中心(xin)”。
Malloy尤(you)其引以為傲(ao)的(de)(de)是,該(gai)公司“曾為全美最大(da)規(gui)模的(de)(de)電(dian)池召回(hui)事件提供(gong)了(le)支(zhi)持”,即參與處(chu)理了(le)在2017年至2022年間因火災隱患被召回(hui)的(de)(de)雪(xue)佛蘭Bolt和Bolt EUV車型的(de)(de)電(dian)池。“我們從中(zhong)積累了(le)大(da)量(liang)經驗。”
雖(sui)然位(wei)于俄克拉荷馬城的(de)(de)電池(chi)解決方案(an)中心(xin)的(de)(de)規模(mo)最大,但(dan)Cox在(zai)底(di)特(te)(te)律、拉斯維(wei)加斯及其亞特(te)(te)蘭(lan)大的(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)司總部附近也設立了維(wei)修(xiu)中心(xin)。維(wei)修(xiu)中心(xin)在(zai)接收和發回電池(chi)的(de)(de)過程中擁有一(yi)項(xiang)獨特(te)(te)的(de)(de)優(you)勢,那就是(shi)利用美瀚拍賣公(gong)(gong)司在(zai)145個地(di)區運(yun)營的(de)(de)現(xian)成(cheng)的(de)(de)交通運(yun)輸網絡。
Taylor還向我們展示(shi)了另一(yi)臺Cox自主(zhu)研發的工具——25kW快速(su)放電裝置,可幫(bang)助(zhu)回收團(tuan)隊(dui)在報廢電池前耗盡電池電量。
在(zai)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)診(zhen)斷環節上,根(gen)本(ben)原(yuan)因分析工(gong)程經理Brandon Carter簡(jian)要介(jie)紹了接收電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)后的(de)處理流程。他(ta)告訴我們:“電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)組(zu)外部使用(yong)了大量密(mi)封(feng)膠(jiao),所以必須用(yong)振動切割工(gong)具沿(yan)著(zhu)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)蓋切割密(mi)封(feng)膠(jiao),以將其(qi)剝離電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)組(zu)。”打(da)開(kai)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)組(zu)后,每(mei)個(ge)電(dian)(dian)芯(xin)都會單獨進行測試,以找出損壞(huai)的(de)電(dian)(dian)芯(xin)。操(cao)作人(ren)員必須小心替換損壞(huai)的(de)電(dian)(dian)芯(xin),并(bing)確保其(qi)與相鄰的(de)電(dian)(dian)芯(xin)“匹(pi)配”。隨后,操(cao)作人(ren)員需要重新(xin)連接母線,并(bing)在(zai)這個(ge)被召回的(de)電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)上使用(yong)密(mi)封(feng)膠(jiao)并(bing)擰緊186個(ge)螺栓,從而將電(dian)(dian)池(chi)(chi)蓋再次密(mi)封(feng)。
在Cox處理(li)鎳氫電(dian)(dian)池(chi)的(de)(de)(de)環節(jie)上(shang),產品運營經(jing)理(li)Sarah Hake介紹了另一(yi)種關鍵(jian)組件的(de)(de)(de)非傳(chuan)統獲(huo)取途徑(jing)。研究(jiu)人員(yuan)需要借助熱(re)敏(min)電(dian)(dian)阻(zu)來(lai)測量模塊(kuai)溫度,但(dan)是特定型號的(de)(de)(de)熱(re)敏(min)電(dian)(dian)阻(zu)難以獲(huo)得。經(jing)過調查(cha),研究(jiu)人員(yuan)發現(xian)透(tou)析(xi)機等醫(yi)療設(she)備上(shang)使用了類似的(de)(de)(de)熱(re)敏(min)電(dian)(dian)阻(zu)。她指出(chu):“我們不需要醫(yi)用級(ji)別的(de)(de)(de)熱(re)敏(min)電(dian)(dian)阻(zu)。生產的(de)(de)(de)這些熱(re)敏(min)電(dian)(dian)阻(zu)也(ye)并非全部達到(dao)A級(ji),有些只有B級(ji),但(dan)它們的(de)(de)(de)精度已(yi)經(jing)非常高了,完(wan)全能夠(gou)滿足我們的(de)(de)(de)測量需求,而且也(ye)很容易獲(huo)得。”
在(zai)回收環節中,耗盡(jin)剩余(yu)電量和(he)(he)使(shi)用(yong)多(duo)功能破碎機(ji)(ji)分(fen)離電池的(de)(de)過程大約(yue)需(xu)要三天時間。強(qiang)勁的(de)(de)空(kong)氣(qi)分(fen)離器(qi)會將大小(xiao)(xiao)不同的(de)(de)材料(liao)進行分(fen)離,隨后電芯和(he)(he)內容(rong)物將通過次級破碎機(ji)(ji)徹底粉(fen)碎。在(zai)每個階段中,材料(liao)會逐漸被分(fen)離成更小(xiao)(xiao)的(de)(de)成分(fen),直至一部分(fen)材料(liao)最終被分(fen)離成可再次出售的(de)(de)含陽極(ji)和(he)(he)陰極(ji)材料(liao)的(de)(de)黑質。Cox表示其加工的(de)(de)黑質是市場上品質最好、污染最少的(de)(de)。這一說(shuo)法得到(dao)了合作伙伴Aleon Metals的(de)(de)支(zhi)持。
“材料(liao)(liao)會(hui)隨著(zhu)傳(chuan)送帶轉(zhuan)移至后續(xu)處理環節。到達指(zhi)定位置(zhi)后,它們會(hui)被送入(ru)多個粉(fen)(fen)碎(sui)裝置(zhi)中(zhong)。在(zai)粉(fen)(fen)碎(sui)材料(liao)(liao)時,我們會(hui)將其處理成所需的(de)大小(xiao)。我們還(huan)采用了(le)一系列分(fen)離器,用于(yu)徹底分(fen)解這些特(te)定大小(xiao)的(de)材料(liao)(liao),以及獲(huo)得包含高(gao)度(du)清潔黑質的(de)材料(liao)(liao)。”
該回收中(zhong)心每(mei)天最(zui)多可(ke)處理2000個(ge)模塊。但工(gong)作人員表示,在一般情(qing)況(kuang)下(xia),他們每(mei)天大(da)約(yue)處理1000個(ge)模塊。
The company's Battery Solutions Center in Oklahoma City gives company end-to-end dominance in serving OEMs’ post-sale needs.
At Cox Automotive’s EV Battery Solutions center in Oklahoma City, the conglomerate most famous for its KBB, Autotrader and Manheim auction brands, has become a go-to for EV battery research, repair, remanufacturing and recycling.
It's something that not a lot of EV buyers think of. When the complex, virtually living organisms that power EVs have problems, it’s often not a simple fix that can be handled by a dealer’s traditional service technicians. Enter Cox, whose “Flying Doctors” can be dispatched to either complete the repair or walk the dealer’s technicians through the process.
And if the problem is more extensive, a dealer and OEM can send a battery to Oklahoma City, where separate diagnostic and service teams work on the problem. If the battery can’t be saved, it is sent to another end of the compound to be recycled and turned into scrap and black mass that can be used again.
Lea Malloy, Cox AVP for EV battery solutions, said the 11-year-old business, which was Spiers New Technologies before Cox acquired it in 2021, “is the first and only one-stop shop for the entire battery lifecycle.”
Malloy is particularly proud that the company “supported the nation’s largest battery recall,” the fire-related recall of 2017 to 2022 Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV models. “We learned a lot from that.”
Though the Oklahoma City center is Cox’s largest, they also exist in Detroit, Las Vegas and Atlanta, near the company’s HQ. One unique advantage for the company when shipping batteries to and from repair centers is that it can use Mannheim Auctions’ already-existing transportation network that operates between its 145 locations.
Home-cooked diagnostics
“Battery diagnostics is our special sauce,” Malloy said, referring to the electronics lab, which researches batteries and determines best diagnostic practices. Connor Taylor, the lab’s engineering manager, discussed how the lab has a startup mentality when it comes to engineering and building their own diagnostic tools.
“The testing we need to do with some of these batteries, sometimes there just isn't a commercial option, so we have to build the equipment,” he said. “An example of that is this 800-volt isolated voltage acquisition part. Some newer batteries are 800-volt architecture or higher, and most of the commercial equipment tops out at 600 volts. So, we couldn't really find anything that would fit our needs. So, we had to roll our own.”
He said the other big category of self-built equipment is things that do exist, but there’s a reason for building it in-house. Often, that’s cost. He showed a source measurement unit for testing Toyota Prius and Camry battery modules. Testing involves repeatedly charging and discharging cells while recording voltage, current and temperature. “You can buy off-the-shelf equipment that does that,” Taylor said. “But we calculated that we needed 2,000 channels and were quoted $1,000 a channel. Back in 2018 we didn’t have $2 million to just give to a supplier and wait nine months.”
Cox had a completed design in 2019 but then the chip shortage hit and forced them to design the unit a second time. “That was somewhat of a good thing,” he said, because it allowed them to use newer, better chips. The end cost of the project: A mere $20,000
Among other tools developed in-house is a 25kW rapid discharger used by the recycling crew to deplete batteries before they’re shredded.
Getting inside… safely
Over on the diagnostic line, Root Cause Engineering Manager Brandon Carter gave an overview of the process once a battery is received. “There's a lot of sealant on the outside of the battery pack, so we must use an oscillating cutting tool to go around the perimeter of the lid and peel it from the battery pack,” he said. Once inside, individual cells are tested to find the bad ones. Those are then replaced, with careful attention given to ensuring that they “match” their neighbors before the busbars are reconnected and the lid is once again closed by applying sealant and tightening 186 bolts on this particular battery, which was part of a recall.
A significant part of the team’s attention is on safety throughout the process, including shipping and unpacking defective batteries. “These are one module per box, and when working at this voltage, we use a 40-cal arc flash suit, or what you would probably recognize looks like a bomb defusing suit or a beekeeper suit. It is some heavy-duty stuff, because we want everyone in our facility to go home exactly the way they came here,”
he said. “We want everyone or treat these batteries with utmost respect for the possible dangers that they bring.”
Though a dealer can identify when a battery pack should be repaired, they may not always have the complete data that Cox needs for its Flying Doctors to perform repairs. So occasionally, Carter said, in-depth diagnostics have to be completed on-site and parts have to be shipped before a repair can be completed. “We have to be pretty flexible without schedules when we’re out in the field.”
On the line where Cox deals with NiMH batteries, product operations manager Sarah Hake discussed another unusual sourcing of a critical component. They needed thermistors to help measure module temperatures. But the specific model was hard to come by, so they searched and found that similar thermistors are used on medical equipment like dialysis machines. “We don't necessarily need the medical grade ones. Not everything when they get manufactured is going to be that A-ranking,” she said. “These are actually the B-grade ones. They are still incredibly, incredibly precise, which is good for us, but it also made them very easy to get.”
94% material recovery
In recycling, it’s about a three-day process to ensure battery discharge, then run everything through various shredders. Powerful air separators divides big pieces from smaller pieces, then actual shredders tear the cells and contents apart. At each stage, material is separated into its component parts until eventually part of it is the black mass containing anode and cathode materials that can be resold. Cox says it produces the best, least-contaminated black mass on the market, and the claim backed by partner Aleon Metals.
Tim Harris, the center's director of operations management, said it’s because of the unique, dry recycling process. “Our black mass is shredded in a dry process. We don’t push them down into water to shred them, so we depower [the batteries] to zero before we shred,” he said. “Some other companies run it through a water solution so they can shred live modules. We depower them so they're safe before we shred them. He also said that process is environmentally cleaner.
“It’s traveling up one conveyor. From that point, it moves on to several crushing pieces. When we go to crush it, get it to that particular size we need. We also have a series of separators that actually break down these particular sizes [and] get to what we need to get that really clean black mass.”
Being cleaner is a relative term in battery recycling, though, and it takes effort and consistency to successfully protect workers and the surrounding area. Cox’s enormous recycling room had a gray haze floating in it when SAE Media visited. Thirty-two recycling techs, operating in two shifts, work in fully encapsulated suits and what look like 3M Versaflo air-supply helmets. As for protecting the outside world, exhaust air goes through a series of filters before leaving the building.
The recycling center handles up to 2,000 modules a day, but workers said in a more typical day they process about 1,000.
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