Engo Aku korpus by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Rauaauhind A' Design Award in Energiatoodete, -projektide ja -seadmete disain Competition Category.

RaudEnergia· 2023

Engo Aku korpus

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: EnGo Planet

Rauaauhind A' Design Award Winner in Energia Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Engo Aku korpus

Engo on virnastatav aku korpus, mis on loodud päikeseenergia toodete ja teiste energiasalvestuslahenduste jaoks. Korpus on valmistatud alumiiniumist ning sellel on terasest raam, plastplaadid ja kummist isolatsioon. Faasitud vertikaalsed servad ja süvistatud nurgad moodustavad varjatud kaablitee, tänu millele püsib juhtmestik korrastatuna nii horisontaal- kui ka vertikaalsuunas. Pikendatud seinad ülal ja all katavad kaablid ning võimaldavad ohutut virnastamist, jättes samal ajal ruumi klemmide ühendamiseks. Kolmekihiline isolatsioon hoiab akupaki stabiilsel töötemperatuuril.

The Recognition

About the Rauaauhind A' Design Award

Engo Aku korpus on Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võitja, prestiižikas tunnustus, mis antakse headele disainidele, mis vastavad professionaalsetele ja tööstuslikele nõuetele, mida oodatakse hästi disainitud töödelt. Raudvõitjad näitavad oma loojate suurt oskust, kõrget spetsialiseerumist, asjatundlikku mõistmist ja loomingulist võimekust. Engo Aku korpus peaks olema kõrgelt hinnatud, imetletud ja armastatud looming, mis on praktiline ja uuenduslik. See Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võidudisain ühendab tööstuse parimaid tavasid ning tal on pädevad tehnilised omadused, mis on seotud oskusteabe ja andega. Engo Aku korpus on austatud oma põhjalikkuse eest ning on loodud pakkuma elukvaliteedi parandusi, mis aitavad teha maailma paremaks paigaks.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The straightforward geometric form of the enclosure is interrupted only by chamfered vertical edges and recessed corners. These details are part of a hidden cabling solution, especially useful within large battery sets, enabling clean and minimally noticeable wiring in any direction, both horizontally and vertically. Extended walls on the top and bottom of the housing keep the cables covered and allow safe stacking while giving enough room to connect the terminals between the stacked pieces.
Dimensions & Packaging: 30Ah unit W: 205mm, D: 90mm, H: 215mm; 60Ah unit W: 220mm, D: 120mm, H: 380mm; 100Ah unit W: 248mm, D: 120mm, H: 556mm.
Tags: Smart Battery, Power Wall, Stackable, Minimal, Cable Management
Production Technology: Aluminum casing, steel frame, plastic plates, rubber insulation
Design Challenge: The battery is to be used in retrofit solar equipment, as an individual product, inside solutions such as power walls, electric vehicles, yachts, etc. That required smart usage of available space. Thermal and water insulation were given careful attention. Three layers of insulation, including ceramic coating, keep the battery pack at a constant temperature and operational between minus twenty and plus eighty degrees Celsius. The rubber used for insulation of the top and bottom of the enclosure gives enough flexibility to compensate for an uneven floor but does not allow capsizing.
Research: A simple production process in any given volume, different sizes of battery packs used, and low starting cost suggested aluminum for the housing. That also planted the idea to use as little manual operation as possible, calling for a minimal but characteristic design that could be produced by CNC cutting and bending. The proportions of the few visible details were refined according to the dimensions of cables, contacts, and connectors, which needed to fit perfectly in the space between the neighboring housings.
Inspiration: The project started with the idea to produce battery casings for a range of EnGo Planet's solar products. After analysis of a typical installation process and everyday usage scenarios, inspiration was found in pure functionality and minimal aesthetic expression. Easy stacking, optimal space usage, and intelligent cable management were the main focus of the design.
Project Duration: The project lasted several weeks and took place in USA and Europe.
Operation Flow: A combination of design details and flexible materials used on the top and bottom of the housing keep the wiring neat and give a clean look to any battery set. The bottom rubber surface features two openings that match the position of the terminals on the unit placed below. The side openings allow lifting the case using a strap, which makes the stacking of heavier versions of the battery easier. The operation and capacity of the unit can be monitored by a smartphone over Bluetooth. The product is available with an optional voltmeter, switch, and USB inlets for charging mobile devices.
Patents: Vladimir Zagorac
Team Members: Vladimir Zagorac
Image Credits: Vladimir Zagorac