Battery manufacturer Saft has released a prototype version of its new 28-volt lithium-ion (Li-ion) main-ship battery that allows aircraft OEMs to begin bench-testing it for future applications.
The first battery being offered is a 60-amp-hour unit that “stores more than twice the energy in the same weight and one and a half times the energy in the same volume than a lead-acid battery,” according to Saft. Weight savings with the Li-ion battery in some aircraft applications could be as much as 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 pounds).
Saft includes smart monitoring features for real-time battery health and status reporting. A Mil-Spec interface is standard, as is a DO-311A1-compliant vent and case meeting thermal runaway containment requirements.
The battery employs Saft's proprietary cell chemistry and will be manufactured at one of its aviation-certified facilities. Development of the battery took place at Saft’s research and development facilities in Cockeysville, Maryland, and Bordeaux, France.
“We have a long track record in providing Li-ion technology for aviation with the Joint Strike Fighter and other commercial programs,” said Annie Sennet, executive v-p for the aerospace, defense, and performance division. “Our new lithium-ion battery for aviation uses all this expertise, translating it into an innovative solution, long-awaited by the industry, that offers a safe, cost-effective, high performance, and weight-saving alternative to lead-acid technology.”