Engo 電池外殼 by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 铁奖 in 能源产品、项目与设备设计 Competition Category.

铁能源· 2023

Engo 電池外殼

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: EnGo Planet

A' Design Award 铁奖 Winner in 能源 Category

25,558

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #148633

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Engo 電池外殼

Engo 是一款可堆疊式電池外殼，專為太陽能產品及其他儲能應用而設計。外殼採用鋁材製成，配以鋼制框架、塑膠面板與橡膠絕緣層。垂直邊緣的倒角處理與內凹式轉角共同構成隱藏式走線通道，使線纜在水平與垂直方向上均能保持整潔有序。頂部與底部的延伸壁面既可遮蔽線纜、確保安全堆疊，又預留了充足空間以便連接端子。三層絕緣結構則使電池組始終維持在穩定的工作溫度。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铁奖

Engo 電池外殼是 A' Design Award 铁奖得主，这是授予满足人们对设计精良的创作所期待的专业与工业要求的优良设计的声望认可。铁奖得主展现出其创作者的高超技艺、高度专业化、专家级的理解力和创造能力。预计Engo 電池外殼将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的创作，既实用又创新。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铁奖的设计整合了行业最佳实践，并拥有与专业知识和才华相结合的称职技术特性。Engo 電池外殼因其严谨而受到尊重，旨在提供有助于让世界变得更美好的生活品质改善。

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