eNewsletter

November 2009

Imara Corp Launches Its First High-Power Lithium-Ion Battery Cell
Imara Corp., a manufacturer of high-performance next-generation lithium-ion batteries, has introduced high-power cells for the power tool, outdoor power equipment and transportation markets.

Imara’s technology breaks through conventional battery technology barriers that require a trade off between fast power discharge and high energy density for extended run time.

Imara’s technology enables a new class of green applications. An hour of use of a typical four-stroke gas-powered lawnmower replaced with Imara battery power eliminates the emissions equivalent to 11 SUV’s driving on the highway for an hour. Replacing one two-stroke weed-whacker or leaf blower with Imara battery power is equivalent to taking 17 SUVs off the road.

Micro Power Introduces SMC-65 Battery Charger Module
Micro Power has released a SMC-65 battery charger module for Li-ion batteries. The module is an open frame charger assembly that provides efficient, reliable battery charging in a small footprint that can be easily integrated into industrial, medical and military OEM products.

The SMC-65 module operates from a wide range DC input, so it can be used in desktop (via an external AC/DC converter), mobile automotive, and military vehicular applications. It will safely charge most popular battery types and pack voltages (up to 19 volts). The 65 watt module has two battery interface configurations; digital (for smart batteries) and analog (batteries with no communications).

The SMC-65 module utilizes a programmable microprocessor charge control system with algorithms capable of charging Li-ion battery packs with or without fuel gauges. The SMC-65 module supports SMBus communications (SBS Level III), and can optionally accommodate DQ and HDQ communication protocols. Other features include variable rate charging and input/output reverse polarity protection.

Konarka  Announces Solar Panels for Portable Charging Applications
Konarka Technologies, Inc. has unveiled a line of solar panels for use in a variety of portable charging applications that will be available worldwide in the fourth quarter of this year. Commercial products incorporating Konarka Power Plastic 20 series material, which include battery chargers for lighting, mobile phones and devices, carry bags and café umbrellas, will be available through the company’s qualified resellers and partners program.

The Konarka Power Plastic 20 series includes the Power Plastic 120 (1-watt), Power Plastic 320 (3-watt) and Power Plastic 620 (7-watt) products. The panels vary in size and are available with and without integrated connectors, ready to be used or integrated into a manufacturer’s device or product.

These solar panels are being made available for delivery in the fourth quarter of this year. Next year, the company will increase its portfolio with additional products for both higher and lower voltage applications.

PRBA's Lithium Battery Proposals Adopted by International Dangerous Goods Panel
The Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA) released that the International Civil Aviation Organization's Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) that met in Montreal earlier this month had adopted several proposals supported by the battery trade group, including changes that impact the shipment, packaging and labeling of lithium batteries.

"We are pleased that the DGP acted on a number of issues that are critically important to the battery industry. PRBA has advocated for strong international regulation of an industry truly global in its scope," said PRBA executive director George Kerchner.
"PRBA continues to support efforts aimed at harmonizing US battery regulations with the more stringent international shipping and packaging requirements while expanding and improving the enforcement of existing US regulations by the US Department of Transportation," Kerchner added. 

The DGP approved PRBA proposals that will facilitate the transport of "low production" and prototype lithium ion batteries, particularly large-format batteries being designed for hybrid and electric vehicles; allow a smaller handling label on some battery shipping packages; eliminate outdated and unnecessary limitations on certain liquid cathode lithium metal batteries; and improve the general packaging requirements for lithium batteries.

In other actions at the Montreal meeting, PRBA assisted Canada in winning DGP approval for changes that will allow passengers with medical needs to carry defibrillators powered by lithium ion or lithium metal batteries onboard aircraft and endorsed a proposal by the International Air Transport Association to ban the air transport of used lithium ion and lithium metal batteries being shipped for recycling or disposal unless approved by the appropriate air transport authority and airline.

The DGP also rejected proposals from the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Association that would have prohibited the transport of lithium metal batteries on both passenger and cargo aircraft and eliminated the existing exceptions for the shipment of small lithium ion cells, batteries and consumer products containing these batteries.

EnerSys Awarded Contracts for Submarine Batteries in the US and Europe
EnerSys has been awarded contracts in the United States and Europe for submarine batteries with a value in excess of $20 million. In the US, EnerSys has received a second consecutive contract award from the US Navy to produce valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries using its proprietary thin plate pure lead (TPPL) technology. This award represents 100 percent of the US Navy's requirement under their 2009 solicitation for VRLA submarine batteries. In February 2008, EnerSys was awarded its first production contract at the end of the successful culmination of a multi-million dollar multi-year cost sharing partnership between EnerSys and the US Navy.

EnerSys will continue to produce the submarine batteries at the company's highly automated facility in Warrensburg, Missouri.

"The EnerSys team worked diligently throughout the ongoing initial production contract to maximize customer satisfaction and even met challenging delivery schedules as production started to ramp up. We have developed strong relationships with the US Navy teams at NSWC in Crane, Indiana, NAVSEA in Washington DC, submarine shipyards and other Navy sites," remarked Sanjay Deshpande, EnerSys vice president of Aerospace and Defense.

EnerSys has also recently received contracts in Europe for batteries for both nuclear and diesel electric submarines for existing and new customers. These batteries will be built in EnerSys' newly constructed specialty facility in Targovishte, Bulgaria.

Firefly Energy Receives $3.3 Million Army Contract
Firefly Energy has signed a $3.3 million contract extension for continuing enhancement of its first two advanced battery technology designs. This funding comes in addition to more than $7 million the company has received to date under its original contract to adapt the company’s next generation microcell foam battery technologies for military applications.

Today’s high-tech military vehicles increasingly depend upon sophisticated electronic devices to accomplish their missions. These devices have incremental energy requirements that severely draw down traditional lead acid batteries. This requirement, along with extreme vibration, varying temperatures and other stress factors inherent to these applications, causes these vehicle batteries to fail prematurely.
Firefly’s breakthrough microcell battery technology enables an extraordinary battery performance in these advanced energy applications by delivering 4 to 6 times the lifetime energy compared with traditional valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries.

Building on Firefly Energy’s current technology design that enables military equipment to utilize batteries for extensive cycling and energy discharges, Firefly Energy will now significantly increase the power and further enhance the available energy in the military “6T” battery case; the 6T is the vehicular battery used across the U.S. and NATO militaries.

This Army contract extension continues development support of Firefly’s “3D” and “3D2” technologies. The 3D technology replaces traditional lead acid battery negative lead metal electrodes with a three dimensional high surface area microcell foam negative electrode, that unleashes the historically unrealized high power potential of lead acid chemistry. Firefly’s second generation 3D2 battery technology replaces both negative and positive lead metal electrodes with the microcell foam material, providing the potential to match energy density numbers (energy per unit weight) at a delivered pack level that are currently only realized in less environmentally-friendly (and much more expensive) lithium and nickel chemistries.

NASA to Evaluate International Battery’s Lithium-Ion Large-Format Batteries
NASA has awarded International Battery a contract to build a battery prototype that will provide backup power in support of the space shuttle program.  NASA is interested in International Battery’s large-format, high energy density, prismatic cells that provide advanced energy storage along with the company’s comprehensive Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS is specifically designed for large format cells and provides increased safety and performance through individual cell monitoring and continuous cell balancing. The entire system is being deployed as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to maintain backup power for critical ground operations.

“This opportunity to partner with NASA further validates International Battery’s truly large format technology,” said International Battery’s CEO, Ake Almgren. “Our individual cells are ten to fifty times larger than those commonly labeled ‘large format’ today. Employing fewer cells to store the same quantity of energy lowers the cost of integrated battery systems and improves reliability and performance.”

The added feature of International Battery’s environmentally friendly, water-based manufacturing process is of additional significance to NASA. International Battery is currently the only company in the United States that can produce lithium batteries using a water-based process. This method does not require solvents and eliminates the need for a costly disposal process.

The battery prototype will be tested at Kennedy Space Center by the end of 2009 and targeted for implementation at other space centers after successful integration and testing efforts have been achieved.

The company’s Allentown, Pa., factory is the first purpose-built commercial manufacturer of next-generation large-format lithium-ion batteries in the United States, and is helping to reverse the offshore flow of manufacturing capability.

Battery Power 2009 Hits Record Attendance: Conference Proceedings Available

Battery Power 2009 was held October 20-21 in Denver, Colorado. The conference, dedicated to OEMs, systems integrators, battery manufacturers and end users, had record attendance with more than 400 participants.

"It is a real testament to the quality of the conference to have such a turn out in this economy climate," said Shannon Given, program manager and editor of Battery Power magazine. "The event is designed to illustrate new technologies and advancements as well as provide networking opportunities."

If you were unable to attend Battery Power 2009, you can still stay up-to-date on the latest capabilities, design issues and trends in batteries and battery-powered products and systems.

For only $290 you can purchase the entire conference proceedings on CD-ROM which includes:

• PDF's of the slides to more than 30 presentations
• Product and services information from the 27 exhibiting companies
• Attendee Information ( Name / Title / Company / City / State )

It’s the next best thing to being at the conference!

To order click here, or email Julie Williams.

The November/December 2009 issue of Battery Power is now available for download; just click on the cover.

•  Thin Printed Carbon-Zinc Batteries Galvanizing Portable, “Green” Product Development

• Advancements in Water-Based Processing for Large Format Lithium Ion Cells

• Reserve Power Hybrid Systems Deliver Cost Savings for Growing Demand in Telecommunication Applications
  

• Battery Welding Solutions Using Laser and Resistance Technologies

• Developments in the Battery Market: An Overview

November

12-13 - 5th Lithium Mobile Power, Albuquerque, NM

17-19 - 2009 NASA Aerospace Battery Workshop, Huntsville, Ala.

25-27 - 2nd International Conference & Expo on Batteries, Capacitors and Ultacapacitors, Milan, Italy

30- Dec 4 - MRS Fall, Boston, Mass.

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