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Boston-Power unveils EV battery module family for Swing cells

Li-ion manufacturer Boston-Power, Inc. has introduced a family of new modules targeted at electric vehicle packs: Swing Key blocks. The company is showcasing the new products this week at AABC Europe in Germany, 6-10 June.

Swingkey
The Swing Key 430 block. Click to enlarge.

The configurable Swing Key block is a series of interconnected Swing cells (earlier post) in a robust mechanical enclosure that combines the safety and performance of Boston-Power’s Swing cells with the capacity and ease of implementation of traditional large format cells. Boston-Power’s battery cell technology platform is based on a flat, oval-shaped prismatic cell design with external dimensions equivalent to two conventional 18650 lithium-ion cells.

The Swing Key blocks are already deployed in EV models today, including the Saab 9-3 ePower. More manufacturers are expected to announce and deploy the new offering later this year and in 2012.

The first two blocks in the family are the Swing Key 430 and Swing Key 435. Swing Key 430 (3.7V, 30Ah) samples will be available in August. Swing Key 435 (3.7V, 35Ah) samples will be available in the fall. Pricing is set to be competitive with today’s prismatic cells (cost per kWh) dependent on volume and configuration.

Comments

Reel$$

The Saab 9-3 ePower will utilize a 35.5kWh battery from Boston Power. But the Saab brand teeters on the edge of extinction. A successful EV WILL breathe new life into the company. But this would take sacrifices from unions and the support of the Swedish government.

These tradeoffs have been made in other countries and the result a positive new, manufacturing sector. Unless Scandinavians are happy with shipping their manufacturing jobs to China.

HarveyD

Design from Sweden/USA and manufacturing in Asia could be a winning combination.

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