Guy Chagnon

Saft lithium-ion energy and power storage technology

Since they were first introduced in the early 1990s, lithium-ion batteries have enjoyed unprecedented growth and success in the consumer marketplace. Combining excellent performance with affordability, they have become the product of choice for portable computers and cellular phones. Building on the same energy and life cycle attributes which marked their consumer market success, but adding new high power storage capability, lithium-ion technology is now poised to play a similar role in the transportation sector. With major programmes in both high capacity and high power lithium-ion technology, Saft has developed a family of products which can address the power and energy storage needs for vehicles, utilities, aviation, satellites, and other applications where light weight, long life, and excellent energy or power storage capabilities are needed. Although further development and refinements are underway, Saft has made a major commitment to bring this technology to the market with the establishment of a major pilot and research facility in Bordeaux France. This paper discusses the performance of this family of products and their potential applications.