Considerations Regarding the Comparison of Traction Batteries

Abstract

S.E.A. has been developing, since 1983, the zinc-flow-battery to be ready for mass production. In 1993 the Boston based Power Cell Corporation (PCC) acquired S.E.A. and the new company intends to erect a facility to produce 150.000 kWh at the end of 1994. Since 1985 zinc-flaw-batteries are used to power electric-vehicles in capacities between 5 kWh and 45 kWh at voltages between 48 V and 216 V. Figure 1 shows a 22.5 kWh/96 V battery assembled in a Fiat-Panda, which holds up to now the record of 260 km per charge at 50 km/h constant. This Panda participated in several rallies and could win the” 12 hrs of Namur” as well as the “AUSTRO-SOLAR-rally” in 1992. Figure 2 shows a purpose designed 15 kWh /144 V battery for the Hotzenblitz-EV, which demonstrates the incredible design-flexibility of the battery. The battery is mounted from underneath the car body between the four wheels and does not consume valuable space in the front or rear of the car. This position too is a significant contribution to the safety of passengers. Mass production for this EV is foreseen in 1995. About 50.000 kms of testing experience partially in direct comparison with originally assembled lead acid batteries showed results with zinc-flaw-battery equipped EVs, which were significant better than was expected. Referring to about the same battery weight a two-to threefold range was experienced with the zinc-flow-system independent of the driving cycle and independent of the battery capacity compared. 0885/8985/94 $4.00 © 1994 IEEE