The new battery system was developed to replace the 6T lead acid batteries currently deployed in military vehicles. A123 says the Military 6T Battery features a longer-lasting, lighter-weight system for engine start and enabling longer-duration silent watch functionality.
“There are nearly 800,000 6T batteries currently deployed in U.S. military vehicles, and in 2010 alone, the military purchased about 300,000 6T batteries. Virtually all of these are lead acid, so we believe this creates a significant opportunity for our lighter-weight, longer-lasting, higher-performance lithium iron phosphate Military 6T Battery,” Les Alexander, general manager for the Government Solutions Group at A123 stated in the press release.
The Military 6T Battery is based on A123′s proprietary Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate technology. The Military 6T Battery leverages the systems engineering and manufacturing design utilized to produce A123′s 12V Engine Start Battery, which is currently offered to commercial automakers.
The company’s battery products offer longer life cycle compared to other battery technologies; are capable of rapid charging and powerful delivery; are 50 percent lighter than lead acid battery systems, which improves fuel economy for transport vehicles on the battlefield; and are equipped with battery management electronics to help balance and safeguard the cells.
“Our new solution has successfully demonstrated the ability to start a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and we have begun delivering 6T systems to a number of defense contractors so they can evaluate its performance as a first step toward potential high-volume production. We believe we can leverage our expertise in developing industry-leading products for commercial markets as well as our vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities to deliver systems that will complement the DoD’s strategy for deploying more energy-efficient technologies,” Alexander stated.
A123 will showcase the Military 6T Battery and its other government and military at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium, Feb. 22-24, 2012, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
For more information visit www.a123systems.com
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