Saft, a manufacturer of specialty batteries for industrial applications, is manufacturing the highest power lithium ion (Li-ion) cells in the world. The VLV range of cells exhibits a specific power, double that of typical high power cells that are available for defense applications and hybrid electric military vehicles.
Saft’s very high power VLV line consists of three sizes of cells (VL4V, VL8V, and VL12V), which comprise the highest power cells commercially available in the world today. New for 2007 will be the VL6A, a high-power cell designed for civil applications that require peak power, such as windmill blade pitch control.
“Our VLV cells are already being manufactured and are currently in use on military fighter aircraft providing emergency back-up power to operate flight controls and to start the APU,” said Dr. Kamen Nechev, manager of Advanced Development, Saft Space and Defense Division. “The VL6A is an exciting addition to our portfolio of very high power cells and will satisfy the power demands of many emerging technologies. We are in a unique position because Saft is the only supplier offering cells of this high level of power.”
Saft’s portfolio includes 6, 8 and 12 amp hour cells with a max charge voltage of 4.1 V, and an average voltage of 3.6 V. Specific power exceeds 9 kW/kg for two second long pulses and 12 kW/kg for 100 millisecond long pulses. The cells are capable of continuous discharge of 6 kW/kg. The very high power cells are used in battery products ranging from 28 V to as high as 600 V.
Saft developed the cells complete with electrical hardware and software monitoring capabilities, to provide complete safety for its customers. The cells can be used for a variety of applications, including emergency power for military fighter aircraft, supplemental acceleration and braking in military hybrid electric vehicles, as well as intermediate energy storage in directed energy systems.