Lead-acid batteries that could revolutionise 12V and 48V vehicle applications are being made after Integral Technologies completed the manufacture of its bi-polar plates.
Advanced Battery Concepts (ABC) is using the plates in its lead-acid bi-polar batteries, with ‘several’ due to be produced containing multiple variations of its plate design and construction.
Integral, and its wholly owned subsidiary ElectriPlast Crorp, is working with ABC under terms of a Joint Technology Assessment Program.
Slobodan Pavlovic, ElectriPlast’s vice president of engineering and the lead developer of the technology, said the firm’s studies had shown the technology could help lead-acid bi-polar batteries meet size, weight, performance and cost requirements for 12V Stop-Start and 48V hybrid vehicles applications.
Pavlovic, said: “The data we’ve compiled over the last year, demonstrates that our bi-polar plate design satisfies all industry performance metrics for bi-polar lead-acid batteries, as well as enabling high volume manufacturability that supports aggressive cost targets.
“Without a feasible bi-polar plate and bi-polar battery construction, the lead acid battery industry will not be able to compete for the new energy storage market.”
ElectriPlast, using its proprietary material, reports it can reach a current density more than two times higher than the specified minimum current density of 0.22 A/cm(2).
Doug Bathauer, Integral’s CEO, said: “In recent months we have seen greater interest from the automotive industry, as electrification of the automobile continues to bolster demand for better solutions for 12V and 48V battery applications.
“Non-automotive applications, in particular, those that cater to personal transportation, such as electric scooters, bicycles, motorcycles, and wheel chairs may present and even greater opportunity for us.”
The technology can be used in lead-acid bi-polar/lead carbon bi-polar and vanadium redox flow batteries for high energy /high power storage systems, or developed for other chemistries, say the company.
