The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), using funding from the US Department of Energy, has awarded Johnson Controls-Saft an $US8.2m contract to develop lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
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It will also evaluate the commercial feasibility of lithium-ion technology for mass market PHEVs over a two-year period.
Johnson Controls-Saft is a joint venture between battery and automotive systems specialist Johnson Controls and Saft, an energy storage systems specialist with extensive Li-ion battery expertise.
“We are working on the development of the complete PHEV system, which includes high energy capacity cells, battery management electronics, control software and an efficient thermal management system, all optimally packaged for safety and efficient integration into the vehicle,” said Mary Ann Wright, who heads both the JV and Johnson Controls’ hybrid battery business.
“Specifically, key goals for this PHEV contract are to optimise cell and battery system design for 10-mile (16km) and 40-mile (65km) electric range vehicles.”
USABC, whose members are Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, awarded Johnson Controls-Saft a similar contract in 2006 focused on lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles. USABC is one of several technology development consortia of USCAR, the United States Council for Automotive Research.
“Lithium-ion technology has the potential to dramatically change the personal transportation landscape for consumers. It can support multiple powertrain technologies, from PHEVs to fuel cell vehicles,” said Don Walkowicz, USCAR’s executive director.
“The… contract is part of USABC’s broad battery technology research and development programme and is important to advancing sustainable transportation solutions worldwide.”
