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Porsche Offers Li-ion Starter Battery Option

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The new Li-ion starter battery. Click to enlarge.

Porsche will offer a lithium-ion starter battery option—the first automaker to do so—as of January 2010 for the 911 GT3, 911 GT 3 RS, and Boxster Spyder. Weighing less than 6 kg (13 lb), the new battery is more than 10 kg or 22 (lb) lighter than a conventional 60 Ah lead battery.

The 12.8V, 18 Ah lithium iron-phosphate pack from Gaia is delivered as a separate unit together with the car and may subsequently be fitted as an alternative to the regular, conventional starter battery. The cars are delivered with both batteries; while the lightweight battery offers a very high standard of everyday driving qualities, Porsche says, its starting capacity is limited at temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) due to its specific features.

Li-ion batteries, given their current pricing, are generally not expected to have much penetration in the SLI (starting, lighting, ignition) battery segment. (Dr. Menahem Anderman of Advanced Automotive Batteries calls the SLI business “a long shot” for advanced batteries such as Li-ion.) Porsche’s new lithium-ion battery will be available as an option delivered with the car, selling at a price in the German market of €1,904 (US$2,900) including 19% value-added tax.

Porsche’s primary reason for developing and introducing the new battery was its lower weight to enhance performance and dynamics.

In its length and width the lithium-ion battery comes in the same dimensions as the regular battery, but is approximately 70 millimeters or 2.8" lower. The fastening points, electrical connections and voltage range are fully compatible with the respective models, allowing simple and quick replacement of the standard lead battery by the lightweight unit, for example when racing on the track.

With its nominal capacity of 18 Ah, the lithium-ion battery, through its specific features, offers a level of practical output and performance not only comparable to that of a 60 Ah lead battery, but better in many cases, Porsche says.

On a conventional car battery only about 30% of the total capacity is actually available for practical use due to the configuration of the system, while this restriction does not apply to the lithium-ion battery. Delivery of power by the lithium-ion battery throughout its useful charge range is likewise significantly better, providing its full power, for example, when starting the engine almost independently of the current charge level.

After the engine has started, the new Porsche battery shows further benefits in the charge process, being able through its smaller internal resistance to take up more power than a conventional battery and thus re-charge more quickly.

Other benefits include a significantly greater number of charging and discharging cycles; a lower self-discharge; and longer service life.

The lightweight battery is made up of four cells and integrated control electronics. This battery management system protects the battery from major discharge and guarantees a consistent charge level within the individual cells. Once battery voltage drops below a certain threshold, a warning signal reminds the driver to re-charge the battery either simply by driving the car through the power of the engine running or by means of a conventional battery charger.

Comments

kansasbaydog

This type of battery would be great for motorcycle SLI.

HarveyD

Curent $60 to $90 Sealed Lead Acid battery does a better job than this $3000 unit. Why would anybody want to change what is very cheap, is easily recycled and works very well in all kind of weather?

Matthew

The key is the 22lb weight savings. For the vast majority of drivers it makes no sense to spend that kind of money to lighten a car by 22lbs. However, if you're (a) into racing, and (b) have the money to race Porches it might make sense.

Neil Maguire

That is a pretty steep price ~ $12,000 per kWh, but then again it is a small volume, specialty option for a Porsche. Don't confuse the price with the cost of these batteries which is $600 - $900 per kWh.

arnold

Recent enquiries to a chatty battery seller in regards to amongst others a high performance 190cca sealed acid vs same dimension standard @ 90cca to replace with li-po or ?
The thinking behind the query was the very expensive, heavier? and was the performance or unit available.

The short answer was NO.
The longer answer was why would you? can catch fire not available( Although any geek with a spot welder can can one up) but the one that made most sense is the non compatibility with the charging system.
This is pointed out in the above article where it describes a battery management system as a dedicated component.
Sounds like a good thing we never got to the question of price!

It wont be that long till the 10cent smarts and $10 box is available to tinkers but that will of course make for an expensive battery pack with (In my application) a packaging challenge.

I suspect one cell equivalent as a capacitor would be a possibility too.
May be that the 'smarts' circuits that integrate a super type cap will be similar to that required for battery management and have the usual performance and economy over the lifetime.

Should last longer than the scooter.

E-Biker

2900 clams? 12.8V@18A-h?? Are these people nuts or just thieves? My homebrew electric Bike-E (35 miles minimum for a c. 20 cent charge) runs 48V@ 12 A-h NiMH and I think I paid about $500 US from a Vancouver, Canada company for the battery.

E-Biker

2900 clams? 12.8V@18A-h?? Are these people nuts or just thieves? My homebrew electric Bike-E (35 miles minimum for a c. 20 cent charge) runs 48V@ 12 A-h NiMH and I think I paid about $500 US from a Vancouver, Canada company for the battery.

E-Biker

Sorry for accidental double post above. And so as not to compare apples w/ oranges, and for comparison only:

http://www.batteryspace.com/highpowerpolymerli-ionboxbattery148v20ah296wh30arateandersonpluginplasticenclosurewithfuelguage.aspx

Li pack, 14.8V 20A-h nominal (30 Amp nom. discharge rate) under $500. What am I not taking into account here?

Mannstein

Wonder what the ROI on this battery is?

Henry Gibson

There is no return on investment for the Porshe; why should there be one for the battery? This clearly demonstrates the thinking of automobile companies that will not build electric cars for the masses but only for the rich. No one has yet mentioned that the battery alone cost more than the TATA Nano. Firefly may be able to get as much weight and life improvement out of its 3d2 technology. EFFPOWER bipolar cells can be modified to get both the power, cycle life and density. Those that think that lead is poisonous have a good chance to see that cobalt, nickel and iron etc. are all poisonous quite quickly compared to lead. Mothers' iron pills are one of the main causes of child poisoning. ..HG..

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