Paris – June 18 2007. Saft, who has been at the forefront of aircraft battery technology since 1932, announces details at this year’s Paris Air Show of its cooperation with leading European aircraft constructors to perfect its leading edge Liion (lithium-ion) technology for aviation applications.
The project combines Saft's 20 years of experience in advanced Li-ion technology with input from its partners within the framework of two cooperation programmes, ELISA and BATTLION, to develop an innovative battery system capable of meeting all aviation requirements for both civil and military applications.
The new battery system, which is due to meet qualification requirements in 2009, can be connected directly to the DC bus, thanks to an integrated charge control and monitoring system, and features indication of state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) as well as communicating with the aircraft system management.
In addition to the well established advantages of weight and space saving, and zero maintenance, the Saft Li-ion system will also enable costs to be reduced due to the integration of the control electronics and charger inside the battery system box.
Li-ion is a sensitive electrochemistry which needs a detailed knowledge of its characteristics to allow its benefits to be exploited fully while ensuring maximum safety. Saft's battery system architecture has been designed logically from the electrochemical standpoint to ensure the essential safety requirements.
The battery control algorithms, which are the result of Saft's 75 years of aircraft battery experience and 20 years mastery of Li-ion electrochemistry, have been combined with leading aeronautical electronic expertise to meet the most demanding requirements of Europe’s major aircraft manufacturers for the future.
The ELISA and BATTLION programmes complement Saft's successful achievements in some of the most prestigious US military programmes JSF and N-UCAS.
Saft aviation batteries
Saft is the world's leading producer of high-technology batteries for this market. In both civil and military aircraft, these batteries serve a critical safety function in case of on-board power failure; they are used for power backup, emergency systems and for engine and turbine starting. Saft's Ni-Cd technology continues to be the leading technology for aviation applications.
About Saft
Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world specialist in the design and manufacture of high-tech batteries for industry. Saft batteries are used in high performance applications such as industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, space and defense. Saft is the world's leading manufacturer of nickel cadmium batteries for industrial applications and of primary lithium batteries for a wide range of end markets. The group is also the European leader for specialized advanced technologies for the defense and space industries. With approximately 3,900 employees worldwide, Saft is present in 18 countries. Its 16 manufacturing sites and extensive sales network enable the group to serve its customers worldwide.
For more information, visit Saft at www.saftbatteries.com.
