Quallion, a developer of
customised Lithium Ion batteries, and Centro Ricerche
Fiat will together unveil the Fiat Panda Hybrid Fuel
Cell/Battery powered vehicle today at The Battery
Show, in San Jose,
California. Fiat has partnered with Quallion to
develop a new Lithium Ion battery pack for the
experimental vehicle that maximizes the Panda's energy
storage and management capacity and improves the
vehicle's safety.
This vehicle was
developed in conjunction with the European HyTRAN and
HySYS programs which bring industrial partners together
for innovative new research. The Panda Fuel Cell/Battery
powered vehicle recently participated at the
Challenge Bibendum 2010, an event on sustainable
mobility held by Michelin in Rio de Janeiro.
The Panda Hybrid Fuel
Cell/Battery powered vehicle showcases the following
innovative technologies:
An innovative line cathode (air
compressor) specially designed and produced by
Centro Ricerche Fiat, the
Lithium Ion battery pack, developed and manufactured by
Quallion implementing its Matrix and HAM technologies
and the new
stack fuel cell design developed and manufactured by
Nuvera.
"Quallion is focused
on delivering technologies that reduce vehicle emissions
and improve vehicle energy management and safety," says
Quallion President, Paul Beach.
"Working with Fiat on the Panda hybrid prototype
Quallion has created a battery that will significantly
impact future hybrid vehicle engineering. Quallion's
Matrix and HAM technologies maximize the vehicle's
energy storage capacity while significantly increasing
the vehicle's safety."
The Panda hybrid
prototype is debuting Quallion's new Lithium Ion battery
pack, which employs proprietary Matrix and HAM
technologies. Quallion's MATRIX technology increases a
Lithium Ion battery's reliability and long-term
costs. This proprietary and highly scaleable system is a
high power model with a large current output capability
that produces an ultra-safe performance. MATRIX
technology is utilised in numerous military vehicles as
a main application for auxiliary power. The technology
is also employed as a starter battery for unmanned
vehicles, HEV/PHEV and aircraft. Quallion's HAM
technology (Heat Absorbent Material) provides structural
strength and electrical insulation to battery
operations. HAM technology is currently used in a
majority of Quallion's Lithium Ion batteries.
Quallion currently
produces high volume medical and military batteries as
well as custom-designed aerospace batteries. Cell
designs range from the world's smallest conventional
lithium ion cell (a cylindrical 1.8 mAh cell) for
medical implants to large 15 and 72 Ah prismatic cells.
Quallion also has extensive experience with the
commercialisation of its module type battery
configurations using its proprietary Matrix technology
that enable scalable battery designs that can be quickly
and cost effectively reconfigured for use in a variety
of vehicles from heavy duty trucks to passenger cars.
Quallion
Quallion LLC was
founded in 1998 by biotechnology and aerospace
entrepreneur Alfred E. Mann
and Lithium Ion battery specialist Dr. Hishashi
Tsukamoto. The company designs, fabricates and
manufactures state-of-the-art Lithium Ion cells and
battery packs, and develops new battery chemistries for
the military, aerospace, medical and automotive
industries. Building on its legacy leadership position
in the medical device industry, the company has
developed a range of novel enabling technologies that
include the world's smallest implantable secondary
battery and the proprietary Zero-Volt and SaFE-LYTE
technologies. Leveraging its core engineering
capabilities, Quallion has established itself as a
leader in applications where advanced battery
technology, safety, reliability and custom engineering
are most valued. The company possesses more than 60
chemistry, cell and battery patents and has 90 pending
patents.
CENTRO RICERCHE
FIAT
Centro Ricerche Fiat
S.C.p.A. (CRF) was founded in 1976 as the Fiat Group's
major source of expertise in innovation, research and
development. CRF's objective is to use innovation as a
strategic lever and to enhance the results of its work
through the promotion, development and transfer of
innovative content able to make products distinctive and
competitive. It is able to play an active role in the
technological growth of the Fiat Group, its partners and
the community in areas such as powertrain, in
collaboration with FPT Powertain Technologies, vehicles
and components, safe and environmentally-friendly
mobility, telematics, new materials and relative
technologies, mechatronics and optics, energy. CRF is
particularly active in the field of research into
sustainable mobility, adopting a systematic approach to
investigate innovative solutions which address all
aspects of sustainability in transport which include
reducing emissions and noise pollution through
innovations on the powertrain, but also increasing fuel
efficiency by reducing vehicle weight, improving the
aerodynamics, optimising the different sub-systems,
developing eco-compatible production processes,
identifying ecological and recyclable materials, and
using communications and info-mobility to help reduce
traffic congestion. The aim is obtain vehicles safer,
greener and more comfortable, where greener means
ecological during the whole cycle of life.
NUVERA FUEL CELLS
Nuvera Fuel Cells is a
global leader in the development of fuel cell systems
and fuel processors for both end users and OEMs. With
offices in the U.S. and Europe,
Nuvera Fuel Cells provides clean, safe and efficient
products for industrial vehicles and equipment in
addition to furthering the development of power systems
for automotive and transportation applications.