German battery manufacturer Akasol is to start developing “increased power and range” second-generation lithium-ion battery systems for Mercedes-Benz all-electric buses.
Akasol said the new systems will offer “about 35% more energy” and increase the range of the eCitaro buses made by Mercedes’ Daimler subsidiary.
Instead of the existing 25 kilowatt-hours storage capacity per battery pack, the second generation will be able to store 33kWh per battery pack, Akasol said. “This means an increase of 35% from 243 to 330kWh per vehicle while maintaining the same constructed space, weight and upwards compatibility”.
Akasol CEO Sven Shulz said: “In addition to improved battery cells, many other small optimisations, for instance in the battery management system and the mechanical architecture, contribute to the improvements of the second-generation systems.”
The lithium-ion battery systems of both generations are able to charge rapidly (at up to 300 kilowatts) and supply energy to additional units such as air conditioning and electrical systems, Akasol said. “The key factor for providing robustness and durability is Akasol’s efficient water-cooling, which guarantees stable tempering at 25°C and allows battery-run buses to operate in all climates.”
According to Daimler Buses, “this technology leap, in conjunction with other factors, contributes to an increase of the vehicles’ range to approximately 200 kilometres (SORT2 cycles, medium traffic) and up to 250km when operating under ideal circumstances”.
The battery systems will be available from 2020.
Earlier this year, Akasol unveiled its first cylindrical-cells battery system with very high energy density which it claimed could boost the driving range of plug-in hybrid commercial vehicles “by more that 60%”.