Saft wins €1.5 Million Order to Supply MP Series Li-ion Batteries for Indian Army’s Tactical Radios
01 October 2009
Saft, world specialist in the design and manufacture of high-tech batteries for industry, has won a new order worth around €1.5 million from Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to supply its MP series rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
The new contract covers an immediate requirement for Li-ion batteries both for new radios and for replacement batteries for radios already deployed in the field. Under the terms of the contract Saft will supply MP series to BEL, including MP 176065 (nominal capacity 6.8 Ah) and MP 174865 (nominal capacity 5.3 Ah) batteries together with MP 174565 Integration batteries (nominal capacity 4.8 Ah) for a new version of the radio that requires a compact lightweight battery pack with a total capacity of 8.0 Ah.
MP series Li-ion cells
Saft MP series Li-ion cells are completely maintenance free, and hermetically sealed at temperatures up to +75°C. In addition to the electronic protection circuits that monitor individual cells within battery packs, the MP cells benefit from such well-proven safety features as: built-in circuit breaker (that enable the fast, automatic disconnection of cells from faulty chargers); safety vent (operating when cell internal pressure exceeds eight bar); a shut down separator (with pores that automatically close in the event of elevated temperatures).
Saft has designed the MP cells to withstand the most common field abuses, such as mechanical shock and vibration, as well as external short-circuit, crushing, nail piercing and so on.
MP 174565 Integration cell
Saft’s MP 174565 Integration cell is engineered specifically for ease of integration within the vast array of rechargeable battery packs required by modern military applications. Its shape, terminals and safety features facilitate either parallel or series connection, while minimizing pack assembly costs and increasing reliability because cell-to-cell wiring is reduced or, for many applications, eliminated completely. Electronic protection circuits provide monitoring of the health of individual cells within battery packs.
The MP 174565 Integration cell features an aluminium casing, rather than the stainless steel casing employed in the regular MP cell. This helps reduce weight and increase energy density to 175 Wh/kg and 423 Wh/l.
