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Saft Receives Additional $1.3M from BAE Systems
[November 26, 2012]

Saft Receives Additional $1.3M from BAE Systems


Nov 26, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- BAE Systems has awarded Saft with $1.3 million in new funding for the continued development of a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) energy storage system for the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program, it was announced.



Saft, which is designing and building ultra- high-power cells for the vehicle's hybrid electric drive system, has already completed the demo battery system including hardware and software.

The GCV is part of a list of military vehicle prototypes for which Saft has supplied advanced energy storage solutions (ESS). The new funding for the GCV project is an addition to the initial 2010 contract.


The GCV is a nine-man Infantry Carrier that can protect against threats, move in urban and off-road terrain and accommodate emerging technologies such as lightweight armor composites and electronics. Comprised of ultra-high-power, high-voltage VL 5U cells, the Li-ion ESS supports the GCV's electric drive system when the vehicle is not running on gasoline, such as during silent watch missions. The ESS system employs green technologies, which improves vehicle fuel consumption and improves weight savings. Saft's proposed ESS reduces the program cost and provides a highly reliable product by leveraging already developed subsystems and components from other qualified system to use on the GCV program.

Saft joins Northrop Grumman, iRobot, MTU, and Qinetiq North America on the BAE Systems GCV team, one of two industry teams working on the technology development phase of the program. The 24-month technology development phase is aimed at completing preliminary design reviews in order build prototype systems prior to the engineering and manufacturing phase.

"Saft is proud to continue working with BAE Systems and its partners on the GCV program," said Tom Alcide, General Manager of Saft's Specialty Battery Group. "This project is a testament to BAE Systems' long-standing support of Saft and our expertise in designing and building state-of-the-art batteries that meet the demands of modern, sophisticated military vehicles." Saft is a company focusing on the design and manufacture of advanced technology batteries for industry.

More information: www.saftbatteries.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected]))

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