Powergenix, a California-based developer of nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries, has signed a product evaluation contract with Germany’s Hella, a Tier 1 automotive battery system supplier.
Hella will conduct real-world vehicle tests to evaluate NiZn’s ability in meeting the high-power requirements of 48V mild hybrid systems, while aiming to reduce overall system complexity and cost.
High rate, high power capabilities are critical to the performance of 48V systems, but the cost and complexity of lithium-ion pose a big challenge to its widespread adoption. Powergenix believes NiZn offer a promising alternative, while meeting both the cost and technical performance targets of mild hybrids.
PowerGenix’s Director of business development Salil Soman said: “”Hella has a reputation for high-quality automotive systems and innovative technologies. We look forward to collaborating to demonstrate that NiZn is capable of meeting all the needs of mild hybrids while offering considerable improvements in cost.”
“Nickel-zinc could offer some unique benefits in 48V systems,” said Dr. Marc Nalbach of Hella. “It’s inherently very safe and also promises to provide equivalent emissions reductions, but at a lower cost.
“We believe our evaluation will open up a lower cost product to our OEM customers interested in reaching the fuel economy gains offered by 48V mild hybrid systems.”
