Saft Wins Follow-on Contract to Supply Advanced Li-ion batteries for the US Army Future Combat Vehicles
10 April 2008 14:00
Saft has been awarded a multi-year follow-on contract by BAE Systems' for Future Combat Systems (FCS), the Army’s premier modernization initiative led by the Lead Systems Integrator team of Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation. Saft will provide lithium-ion (Li-ion) hybrid electric vehicle batteries for Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV), a family of hybrid electric combat vehicles for the FCS program.
Saft will provide a high voltage, 4 kWh battery as part of the energy storage subsystem for the FCS MGV family of vehicles. The battery pack will power hybrid electric propulsion and vehicle start and features a unique module by-pass that allows up to two modules to fail while battery operation continues. This very high power Li-ion battery pack was selected to meet the MGV program's Battery Pack, High Voltage requirement because of superior performance and ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
"Saft previously supplied batteries for the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon and the first-generation FCS vehicle," said Jim Miller, General Manager of Saft's Space and Defense Division. "This contract represents an on-going partnership between Saft and BAE Systems and our strong commitment to the Army's FCS program."
Through this new contract, Saft batteries will support BAE Systems’ Common Traction Drive Subsystem (TDS) for the FCS. TDS is a series-hybrid drive system that will provide vehicle propulsion, steering and braking, and regenerate electrical power from braking and downhill grades for use in vehicle electrical systems. The TDS team will join the MGV Propulsion Integrated Product team to work in conjunction with BAE Systems and General Dynamics to develop and fully integrate the propulsion system for the common chassis.
For more information on this company:
Saft - Lithium Cells and Battery Packs
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