Lithium-ion battery energy storage system to be used by U.S. Army

Saft will supply its Li-ion energy storage system technology for the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program.

Source: Saft

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Saft announced its advanced Li-ion energy storage system will support the technology development phase of the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program. As a member of the BAE Systems GCV team which has been awarded a contract for the initial phase of the program, Saft has entered into an agreement to design and build ultra high-power batteries for the vehicle’s hybrid electric drive system.

Saft will add the GCV program to its growing list of military vehicle prototypes for which it has supplied its high power energy storage systems. 

The vehicle must meet the Army’s rigorous requirements for a highly survivable platform that can adapt to an evolving operational environment. Comprised of ultra-high-power, high-voltage VL 5U cells, the Li-ion energy storage system will support the vehicle’s hybrid electric drive system when it is not relying on traditional carbon-based fuels; an example of an operation that would utilize this technology would be silent watch missions. In addition, the system will provide thermal management and act as a high-power traction motor battery.

The technology development phase of the GCV program is a 24-month program aimed at completing preliminary design reviews in order to begin building prototype systems for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program. Saft’s contribution of an ultra high power energy storage system will allow BAE Systems to prove the advantages of Li-ion technology in this hybrid electric vehicle.