Saft First to Qualify Standardized BA 5590A/U Battery with SOCI
09 August 2006 11:02
Valdese, NC, August 9, 2006 - Saft, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-tech batteries, announced today that it received a $4 million order from the United States Department of Defense for its enhanced BA 5590 lithium-sulfur dioxide (Li-SO2) batteries. The BA 5590A/U model features a new state of charge indicator (SOCI), which is an addition to the existing BA 5590B/U battery. Both versions will continue to be available to meet the dynamic needs of military field communication applications.
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command (CELCMC) recently standardized the specifications for the BA 5590A/U battery to include the state of charge indicator. Saft is currently the first, and only, manufacturer to offer a qualified BA 5590A/U with SOCI, based on the new standardization in MIL-PRF 49471B.
The state of charge indicator allows the soldier to determine the amount of capacity that remains in the battery and will prevent waste of partially spent batteries. Without this technology the soldier would typically use a new battery every time he or she went on a new mission to ensure that there would be enough power.
The BA 5590 battery is the U.S. military's most widely used portable energy source, powering many types of communication devices used in combat throughout the armed services. Saft is the leading supplier of BA 5590 B/U batteries to the U.S. military and the Li-SO2 chemistry is the most commonly used lithium technology with a significant proven record in combat situations; it also is the most cost-effective solution on the market.
"This order strengthens Saft's position as a leading supplier of advanced battery power for military applications," said Thomas Alcide, Saft Specialty Battery Group General Manager. "We have built a strong reputation on our field-proven BA 5590 batteries and will continue to develop technologies that provide soldiers with the most reliable and light weight power solution."
Saft's Valdese facility provides portable power in multiple lithium battery technologies including Li-SO2, Li-MnO2 and Li-ion. With more than 20 years of extensive experience in lithium batteries, Saft continues to offer its military customers the best value power solutions for the soldier in the field.
For more information on this company:
Saft - Lithium Cells and Battery Packs
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