Engo 電池外殼 by Vladimir Zagorac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 能源設計 Competition Category.

鐵能源· 2023

Engo 電池外殼

by Vladimir Zagorac

Client: EnGo Planet

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 能源 Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Engo 電池外殼

Engo係一款可堆疊嘅電池外殼,專為太陽能產品同其他儲能用途而設計。外殼採用鋁材製造,配以鋼架、塑膠板同橡膠絕緣層。斜切嘅垂直邊緣同凹陷嘅角位形成隱藏式佈線通道,令水平同垂直方向嘅接線都保持整齊。頂部同底部嘅延伸壁面可以遮蓋電纜,方便安全堆疊,同時保留足夠空間接駁端子。三層絕緣設計令電池組保持穩定嘅工作溫度。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Engo 電池外殼是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Engo 電池外殼將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Engo 電池外殼因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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