Ovonic nickel-metal hydride batteries for 42-V applications

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Ovonic nickel-metal hydride batteries for 42-V applications

Bendert, R.M. / Corrigan, D.A. / Dhar, S.K. / Ovshinsky, S.R.

Ovonic^TM Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries provide excellent power and energy properties for 42-V applications emerging in the world automotive industry. For many years, the electrical power requirements for conventional ICE-powered vehicles have increased and the practicality of further increases with the 14-V altemator system utilizing 12-V lead-acid batteries is now limited to less than 5 kW. Combinations of features such as electric power steering, electric braking, electromagnetic valves, electrically heated catalytic converters, electric air conditioning, heated seats, and other electrical accessories will push the requirements to over 5 kW and it is expected that an increase in system voltage will be necessary to accommodate these features. This provides an opportunity for improved battery technology. Ovonic^TM NiMH batteries can provide double the power and energy in less volume and weight than lead-acid batteries. Particularly for 42-V hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) ranging from start-go mild hybrids to füll power-assist HEVs requiring over 20 kW of power, the advantages of nickelmetal hydride batteries over lead-arid batteries are quite significant. In particular, NiMH batteries have excellent life in hybrid applications and superior charge acceptance. Additionally, Ovonic^TM Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries offer substantially superior power performance over valve-regulated lead acid batteries under consideration for these applications even at low temperature. This paper will focus an the development of NiMH batteries for 42 V applications showing how performance requirements for numerous applications can be met making use of the excellent performance attributes of Ovonic NiMH batteries in full-system solutions.