EnerSys has recently been selected to supply lithium-ion cells and batteries valued at more than $60 million to multiple space agencies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide.
Lithium-ion raw materials and 72Ah large format lithium-ion cells will be manufactured by EnerSys subsidiary, Quallion LLC, at its production facilities located in Sylmar and Santa Clarita, California. With the qualification of these large format lithium-ion cells, EnerSys will be the only domestic manufacturer with full production of lithium-ion materials, cells and batteries for space applications. The batteries will be designed, manufactured and tested by EnerSys subsidiary, ABSL Space Products, at its manufacturing facilities located in Longmont, Colorado (for US-based space programs) and Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (for European programs). The first batteries are scheduled to be shipped later this year and will be used in multiple types of satellites and launch vehicles.
In addition to being a global supplier of Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology for high-reliability energy storage solutions in commercial, industrial and defense applications, EnerSys also supplies proprietary long-life lithium-ion cells, which are relied upon for critical applications. In October 2001, EnerSys-ABSL’s battery became the first lithium-ion battery to power a satellite when launched aboard the Proba-1 spacecraft. The spacecraft was built by QinetiQ Space for the European Space Agency and almost sixteen years later, Proba-1 has become the longest lithium-ion powered mission. Additionally, EnerSys has several batteries designed for manned flight space applications and is proud to manufacture the battery that powers NASA manned spacewalks.
Jeffrey Long, President – Americas, EnerSys, said, “These new awards totaling more than $60 million demonstrate development and product acceptance beyond our lead acid business, and will leverage our recent lithium technology expansions.” Mark Mathews, Vice President of EnerSys Advanced Systems, added, “These lithium-ion space contracts illustrate the continued strength of our market position within the aerospace and defense sector worldwide.”
