Publication

Power and Mobility (P&M)
2011

LITHIUM ION VEHICLE START BATTERIES – POWER FOR THE FUTURE

by Mike Marcel; Les Alexander; Tony Knakal; Bailey Fagan

Abstract

Vehicles on today’s battlefield need batteries for more than just starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) loads. Power requirements and the need to provide this power during silent watch scenarios have been steadily increasing as modern vehicles use increasingly more sophisticated communications and other vetronics systems. Along with this need for more power is a need to communicate to the warfighter the state of their vehicle batteries. Battery management that provides the warfighter with accurate information about the current state of charge and health of their vehicle batteries will allow them to use the energy in their batteries without fear of not being able to start their vehicle after a silent watch. Lithium Ion batteries, particularly Nanophosphate, show great potential for providing long life, high capacity, lightweight, safe solutions to these issues, enhancing the warfighter’s capabilities in the field.