News

LTC Delivers Li-Ion System For Hybrid Car Project In Europe

April 05, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Lithium Technology Corp. (LTC) has delivered, through its wholly owned German subsidiary GAIA Akkumulatorenwerke GmbH in Germany, a Li-ion battery for a hybrid vehicle that is being developed by UK based automotive technology specialists Zytek Systems as part of the Energy Saving Trust's Ultra-Low Carbon Car Challenge (ULCCC).

In March 2005, Zytek was awarded grant funding from the Energy Saving Trust for the 2nd phase of their ULCCC project to develop a new high efficiency, dual mode hybrid vehicle. The vehicle is based on the new Smart for four and will utilize a hybrid power train based on 1500cc, 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine (ICE) coupled to 2 high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors.

Zytek has ordered three Li-ion batteries with output of 288 V, a capacity of 7.5 Ah (or about 2.2 kWh of energy) and with a capability to deliver 25 kW of power. The batteries can be charged by either the ICE, by regenerative breaking, or by household mains (plug-in hybrid), and will have a modest all-electric range. The first battery has been installed in the vehicle and road tests will commence shortly. The remaining two batteries will be delivered in April 2006.

LTC, together with Zytek and I+ME, have jointly developed an improved version of the Battery Management System (BMS) to include additional safety features and to control the charging of the battery from the mains. The BMS will also communicate with the vehicles energy management system for better efficiency and control.

Klaus Brandt, Managing Director of GAIA Akkumulatorenwerke, commented: "This project demonstrates an important step forward in the commercialisation of our products and technology in the HEV marketplace. Lithium-ion batteries are becoming the technology of choice for hybrid and electrical vehicles, and we at LTC have the proven capabilities to answer the growing demand."