Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 07 September 2010 12:34
Science -
Energy
Page 1 of 2
Battery tech is starting to see some innovation; today Ford announced a new extended life battery system for the Ford Focus.
In this country [Australia] at least, much of the electricity hitting the grid is generated by non green processes such as the burning of brown coal. This fact doesn’t dampener the spirit of those looking for a greener alternative to fossil fuel dependent vehicles.
So it is unsurprising that vehicle manufactures, such as Ford, see a market and benefit in driving R&D behind more efficient use of stored power cells or batteries.
Today Ford announced a new liquid-cooled battery system, designed to drive the owners of the Focus Electric car further between ‘plug ins’
According to Ford:
The all-new Ford Focus Electric, which debuts in the U.S. late next year and in Europe in 2012, will be powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery that utilizes heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and gas-free driving range.
Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of all-electric vehicles because extreme temperatures can affect performance, reliability, safety and durability. Ford has chosen an advanced active liquid-cooling and heating system to regulate the temperature of its lithium-ion battery packs, which are designed to operate under a range of ambient conditions. “All-electric vehicles do not have a conventional engine on-board, so it is critical we maximise the performance of the battery under various operating temperatures,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Program and Engineering. “Active liquid systems are more effective than air systems at regulating lithium-ion battery temperature. As a result, the active liquid system on Focus Electric will play a key role in providing our customers with the best performance possible.”
The active liquid cooling and heating system also enables the Focus Electric to automatically precondition the battery pack temperature during daily recharging. When the vehicle is plugged in to the power grid, the vehicle system will be able to warm up the battery on cold days and cool it down on hot days.
The Focus Electric will be built at Ford’s retooled Michigan Assembly Plant and will be available in late 2011. The vehicle will have an expected range of up to 160 kilometres and use no petrol at all.
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