France’s battery maker Saft Aviation (Saft) has been awarded by Airbus to supply low maintenance on-board nickel-cadmium batteries to the twin-turbine EC175 helicopter fleet.
Two batteries will be installed on each helicopter to provide on-board power for APU (Auxiliary power unit) starting and electrical systems back-up on the EC175 model.
Each battery comprises of 20 CVH27 cells, providing a nominal 24V and 27Ah capacity at a total weight of 26.5 kg. According to Saft, plastic bonded electrodes reduce maintenance operations of the batteries.
Saft customised the engineered battery system for the EC175 prototype, progressed through qualification and certification in 2012 and has now entered serial production of the battery.
The EC175 Airbus helicopter is designed for offshore, search and rescue operations as well asand for VIP transportation. It has a capacity to carry up to 16 passengers. Due to the harsh vibrations and extreme temperatures on missions, the helicopter demands reliable on-board batteries.
The first delivery of the helicopter fitted with Saft’s batteries took place on December 11 to a Belgian operator.
Saft previously deployed batteries on helicopters such as the AS350, the EC135 and EC145. “It [the assignment] is also reinforcing ULM technology as the standard for nickel-based aviation batteries,” said Antoine Brenier, international sales & marketing director at Saft Aviation.
