Analyzing the Expense: Cost Modeling for State-of-the-Art Electric Vehicle Battery Packs

The Battery Performance and Cost Model (BatPaC), developed by Argonne National Laboratory, is a versatile tool designed for lithium-ion battery (LIB) pack engineering. It accommodates user-defined specifications, generating detailed bill-of-materials calculations and insights into cell dimensions and pack characteristics. Pre-loaded with default data sets, BatPaC aids in estimating production costs for battery packs produced at scale (5 to 50 GWh annually). Acknowledging inherent uncertainties in parameters, the tool remains accessible and valuable for designers and engineers. BatPaC plays a crucial role in National Highway Transportation Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulatory assessments, providing estimated battery pack manufacturing costs and weight metrics for electric vehicles. Integrated with Argonne's Autonomie simulations, BatPaC streamlines large-scale processes, replacing traditional models with lookup tables. This integration highlights BatPaC's adaptability to emerging technologies, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rulemaking evaluations. In short, BatPaC is a robust LIB pack design and cost estimation tool, contributing to the evolving landscape of lithium-ion battery technology. Its integration with Autonomie positions it as a key player in large-scale simulations and regulatory assessments, emphasizing the tool's relevance and effectiveness in the dynamic electric vehicle and battery technology landscape. Continuous refinement will be essential to address market dynamics and ensure BatPaC's ongoing impact.