Exopack To Supply Current Collector For Battery On New Electric Car
MATTHEWS, N.C.—A decade-long program to develop specially coated conductive foil current collectors and use them in new all-solid lithium polymeric metal (LPM) battery for electric cars is paying off for Exopack Advanced Coatings™.
The company has been awarded the business to supply critical current collectors for batteries designed to power a 100-percent electric car now under development by a European partnership. The joint venture—involving Bollore Group, a diversified French company and Pininfarina, an Italian niche automaker—plans to produce and deliver 20,000 of the emissions-free vehicles to buyers in Europe, Japan and the U.S. by 2012.
Chuck Quinby, global business development manager at Exopack Advanced Coatings, is heavily involved with lithium battery manufacturers around the world. He began with InteliCoat Technologies and now works for Exopack, part of Exopack Holding Corp. Made from extremely thin foil with proprietary coatings on one or both sides, the current collector design provides a conduit for the electricity while protecting the foil from the battery chemistries. Current collectors are essential to both batteries and capacitors.
“The selection of Exopack gives us the ability to further expand our position as a recognized and reliable source to an increasingly important segment of the global automobile industry,” Quinby said. “Our products will assist in advancing the market for green, environmentally-friendly transportation options.” The current collectors will be produced at the Matthews facility.
The LPM battery, already used commercially in some telecom applications, offers automotive manufacturers a number of advantages compared to traditional lithium ion batteries. The new automotive battery features an all-solid cell, free of any liquids that could lead to overheating or fire. The battery cell is encased in steel to protect against external puncture. A passive system electronically monitors battery functions.
The new battery has a designed service life of more than 200,000 kilometers (about 125,000 miles). The battery’s high capacity will enable the electric car to accelerate from zero to 50 kms/hour (31 mph) in under 5 seconds. Projected top speed for the new car is 130 kms/hr (81 mph). Full recharging of the new automotive battery will require five hours; a 5-minute recharge can power the car 25 kms (about 16 miles).
