USABC Awards $9.62 Million Battery Development Contract

USABC Awarded a $9.62 Million USD Battery Technology Development Contract to LG Chem Power Inc to develop a self-contained, thermally-managed, lithium-ion battery pack system for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) applications.

Southfield, Mich. – The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), an organization whose members are Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, announced the award of a $9.62 million advanced battery technology development contract to LG Chem Power Inc. (LGCPI) in Troy, Mich. on July 25th 2011.

The competitively bid contract award is co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and includes a 50 percent cost share by LGCPI. USABC awarded the contract to develop a self-contained, thermally-managed, lithium-ion battery pack system for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) applications.

The 24-month LGCPI program will utilize cells that incorporate advanced cathode materials and a thermal management system that incorporates refrigerant-based cooling, integrated heating and high efficiency insulation. The program aims to make significant strides toward achieving the USABC goals for PHEV 40-mile battery pack system performance requirements while driving down the cost to automakers toward the USABC goal of $3,400.

USABC is a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR). Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the DOE, USABC’s mission is to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support commercialization of hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. As such, USABC has developed mid- and long-term goals to guide its projects and measure its progress.

“We are pleased to announce the award of this contract to LG Chem Power, Inc. as part of USABC’s broad battery technology research and development programs,” said Steve Zimmer, executive director of USCAR. “These programs are essential to advancing both near- and long-term goals that will enable a broad spectrum of vehicle electrification and make electrified vehicles increasingly affordable.”

The new contract is LG Chem Power’s fourth with USABC, which previously awarded the company, under its former name, Compact Power Inc., three contracts – one in 2008 for plug-in hybrid electric battery technology development, one in 2006 and one in 2004 to develop lithium-ion battery technology for hybrid electric vehicle applications.

The U.S. DOE’s overarching mission is to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program works with industry, academia and national laboratories to develop advanced transportation technologies that reduce the nation’s use of imported oil and increase its energy security. Electrochemical energy storage has been identified as a critical enabling technology for advanced, fuel-efficient, light and heavy-duty vehicles.

Who is USCAR?

Founded in 1992, USCAR is the collaborative automotive technology company for Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors. The goal of USCAR is to further strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative research and development. For more information, visit USCAR’s Web site at www.uscar.org

U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium’s Strategic Vision:

The USABC seeks to promote long-term R&D within the domestic electrochemical energy storage (EES) industry and to maintain a consortium that engages automobile manufacturers, EES manufacturers, the National Laboratories, universities, and other key stakeholders.

USABC Objectives:

For high-energy and high power energy storage technologies and models, the USABC shall continue its focus on understanding and addressing the following factors:

  • Continue development of high-power battery technologies to reduce cost to $20/kW and extend life to 15 years.
  • Develop battery technology to support electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.
  • Develop ultra-capacitor technology for hybrid electric vehicle applications.
  • Conduct benchmarking activities for both high power and high energy batteries and ultra-capacitors to validate technologies.
  • Publish technical goals and associated test procedures to guide the development of electrochemical energy storage systems. (source www.uscar.org)
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