Johnson Controls unveils next-generation Li-ion pack and cell in ie:3 BEV demonstrator
10 January 2011
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Cutaway of the new pack in the ie:3 demonstrator. Click to enlarge. |
Johnson Controls unveiled its next-generation Li-ion battery cell and pack, applied in the new ie:3 (“inspired efficiency”) battery-electric demonstrator vehicle (BEV) at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Johnson Controls Saft hard-case prismatic 30 Ah cell (the 30M) uses NMC cathode materials—a mixed oxide material containing nickel, manganese and cobalt—and is targeted for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. For application in the ie:3, Johnson Controls paired the cells in parallel, for a 60Ah unit.
For the ie:3 demonstrator, Johnson Controls designed a 23.7 kWh pack comprising 216 cells that fits completely under the floor. The new prismatic format (which still needs to be finalized, according to Johnson Controls) achieves greater packaging efficiency and uses less space.
The cooling loop is isolated from the pack compartment itself, and utilizes a baseplate that can be thermally managed according to automakers’s desires—i.e., using air or liquid.
Johnson Controls envisages the ie:3 small car as having a 100-mile (161 km) electric range enabled by that size pack, equipped with the NMC cells.
Packaged differently, Johnson Controls noted, the new cell will also be effective in a plug-in hybrid application.
Resources
JCS PHEV System Development-USABC (2010 DOE Vehicle Technologies US Department of Energy Merit Review)
Flat batteries mounted under (in) floor would put the weight where it is more beneficial for vehicle stability and leave more space for passengers and cargo. Since floor space varies with car size, so would the battery pack. As batteries performances increase, more e-range would be available with the same space and weight.
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 January 2011 at 06:26 AM
If you look at the source materials it seems the new battery isnt much different from the old one just a bit better. And it doesnt even look to be all that good a battery.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 10 January 2011 at 06:43 AM
Sometimes application reference designs can cause designers to think in different ways. It shows what their product can do and how companies can get to market more quickly.
Posted by: SJC | 10 January 2011 at 10:58 AM
Weight and cost/cell would be critical information, as would voltage(3.7 calc.), cycle life, ...
Posted by: kelly | 10 January 2011 at 11:05 AM
A 23.7kwh pack made of 108 modules in series, 3.66v*108*60Ah = 23.7kwh
Posted by: Herm | 10 January 2011 at 02:42 PM
No specs like the energy density or cost or cycle life or anything else useful.
Must not have anything too spectacular or they'd be trumpeting their specs from the mountain tops.
Probably a non-event.
Posted by: DaveD | 10 January 2011 at 07:47 PM
And another reason to doubt the wisdom of "battery swapping." Totally impractical for the next ten years while engineers develop the best form factors, formats and chemistry.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 10 January 2011 at 08:33 PM
I welcome whatever incremental steps anyone can do to reduce imported oil. We are WAY overdue addressing this issue and the sooner we get on with making significant progress the better off we will all be.
Posted by: SJC | 11 January 2011 at 11:57 AM