Valence Technology Unveils Intelligent, Large-Format Lithium-Ion Battery System
Valence Technology, Inc. unveiled what the company describes as the next era of large-format, lithium-ion battery technology. Branded Epoch™, Valence believes its new generation of phosphate-based lithium-ion battery systems will move the electric vehicle industry one step closer to finding a battery solution that is safe, intelligent, lasts longer and weighs less than technologies currently in use. Epoch batteries are said to be equipped with an advanced management system that will monitor and adjust cell performance so battery packs will always operate at their optimum performance capacity.
"By definition, ‘epoch’ means a period marked by radical changes and new developments," said Robert L. Kanode, President and CEO of Valence. "That was our goal with this new suite of products – to provide the industry with a new level of power storage that changes the way customers approach the design and deployment of electric powered vehicles. Moreover, we wanted the Epoch brand to be more than a concept, so we made sure Valence had the sourcing capability, manufacturing capacity and start-to-finish infrastructure to produce systems now and in the future in commercial quantities.
"We believe the Epoch brand of battery systems will serve as the cornerstone of an era when lithium-ion battery chemistry used for large-format transportation and other motive and back-up storage applications is efficient, safe, reliable, powerful and widely-used," continued Kanode. "As potential new clients see the benefits of Epoch brand-equipped delivery fleets, Valence could well set the standard for EV fleet vehicles in several European markets during 2008 and we would hope to see the same type of market traction and excitement in U.S. markets in the near future."
The Epoch brand of customizable battery packs will be available in 12.8 and 19.2V modules and will allow users scalability up to 390 KWh. Additional Epoch battery system benefits include a fail soft capability that will eliminate system failure and a life cycle comprised of more than 2000 charge cycles. The company also claims that the Epoch branded battery products will provide users a "green" alternative to environmentally contaminating lead-acid batteries.
