05.06.2018 – 14:22

LION E-Mobility AG

DGAP-News: LION E-Mobility AG: New battery concept 'Light Battery' - modular, safe and wireless

DGAP-News: LION E-Mobility AG / Key word(s): Product Launch/Interim Report
LION E-Mobility AG: New battery concept 'Light Battery' - modular, safe and
wireless

05.06.2018 / 14:19
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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New battery concept "Light Battery" - modular, safe and wireless

A powerful, reliable and safe energy storage system can improve trust in
electric vehicles (EVs). To overcome the limitations of traditional battery
systems LION Smart has developed a proprietary new battery concept. This new
development will raise the bar due to the absence of internal cabling and a
highly sophisticated safety concept.
 
The ongoing discussions about sectoral bans of vehicles with combustion engines
accelerate the development of new EVs. But one reason that stops potential
customers buying these EVs is often the short driving range. Moreover, there are
reservations about their reliability and safety. Therefore, many potentially
interested drivers are reacting more conservatively about driving electric
vehicles. Vehicles with conventional combustion engines are subject to the same
safety standards as EVs but there are concerns about new technologies which must
be taken seriously. However, these concerns can be refuted by effective new
concepts.

Light Battery overcomes limitations

LION Smart GmbH took the challenge to ask itself the key questions to develop a
proprietary new battery concept which exactly addresses the mentioned
reservations. A modified BMW i3s which has a driving range of more than 700 km
serves as a concept study - compared to the original car this represents a more
than doubled driving range. The long-term experience from various prototype
projects shows that most traditional battery concepts have their own different
restrictions. This starts with unfavorable geometric dimensions up to a high
manual effort for assembly. To solve these problems and more with innovative
concepts as a goal, the development of the modular design of the Light Battery
started.

Technical and economic challenges

There are various possibilities to optimize the battery in the design stage.
With regard to technical aspects of particular importance are: high energy
densities, robust safety concepts and longevity, but in focus there are also
economic criteria like costs of material and assembly. There are many new
technical solutions integrated into the Light-Battery concept which in addition
saves manufacturing costs. The modular design of the new battery combined with
the high functional integration of the components used results in a very high
energy density. The cable-less internal construction of the battery allows a
cost-effective and nearly fully automated production.

Flexible and modular design

The smallest module of the new battery-pack is the so-called Supercell. It
consists of a housing in which cylindrical battery cells are arranged
hexagonally and connected in parallel. The Supercell can be adapted to different
battery cell formats like 18650, 21700 etc. and due to its high scalable degree
of parallelization provides the possibility to be adapted to the most diverse of
customer requirements. Several Supercells are plugged together in a modular
structure to build a module. This enables the creation of batteries for
underbody installation in vehicles as well as in other complex mounting spaces.
Every Supercell features a measurement card which monitors the voltage and
temperature of the cell.
The measurement card is connected to the battery poles of the Supercell and thus
powered. This completely eliminates the complex sensor wiring. The LIRS (LION
Infrared Slave) measurement cards developed by LION Smart can be cascaded in a
master-slave arrangement and carry out wireless data transmission via an
infrared interface. In the same way the LIRS card communicates bidirectionally
with the LCM master (LION Control Module).

Optical data transfer

Infrared interfaces enable data rates up to some Gbps and realize system
monitoring with high resolution and fast sampling rates. Because there are no
cables needed the data transmission is not sensitive to electromagnetic
radiation and is robust against mechanical stress. Since there is no sensor
wiring short circuits due to defective sensor wires are avoided and the LCM as
well as the individual LIRS are safely galvanically isolated from each other.
The modular optical data transmission can be arranged very flexible and costly
work steps like cable connection, installing cable canals and complex attaching
or joining processes are eliminated completely. Therefore, the Light Battery
raises the bar regarding automated manufacturing processes. The battery
management system (BMS), as a distributed system, integrates seamlessly into the
battery system because it is part of the Supercell except for the LCM.

Well cooled and protected

In the thermal management system of the Light Battery the High-Tech-Fluid Novec
from 3M is used. It is a dielectric liquid which is already in use in some
high-performance applications and for cooling of servers. Due to the fact that
the operating temperature in the battery system has considerable impact on the
aging process and the power output of the individual battery cells it is
absolutely necessary to cool the cells effectively and homogenously. To regulate
the optimal operating temperature of the cells in the Light Battery they are
directly immersed in the coolant. The very large surface of the round cell and
the direct thermal coupling with the coolant results in a very good heat
transfer. The symmetrical coolant flow enables a homogenous volumetric flow rate
of the fluid and results in a uniform temperature in all battery cells. The
coolant serves not only for cooling reasons but is also an integral part of the
safety concept of the battery.

Tolerate defect individual battery cells

The quality of a battery system, let's say its capacity and usable energy, is
defined by the quality of its weakest individual cell. If the system
architecture is based on large cells were only a few or no parallel connected
cells are included, the quality of the individual cell becomes immensely
important. If there is only one weak cell in the system the performance of the
entire system is limited. Consequently, it must be strived to achieve a maximum
homogeneity of the connected battery cells. The Light Battery achieves this by
using many parallel connected round battery cells.
In the case of an internal failure of an individual battery cell during its life
time, e.g. a short, a protective fuse disconnects the failed cell from the
system. This fuse is integrated into the cell connection and duplicated for
every single cell. After disconnecting the cell, it is no longer an active part
of the battery system and the remaining system is still fully operational.

Preventing fire in battery cells effectively

The redundant fuses of the individual cells in the Light Battery enable a very
high level of system safety. In the case of a thermal runaway the cooling is
concentrated via an alternative cooling path to the affected battery cell to
cool it down as effectively as possible and contain the reaction. The phase
change of the coolant from liquid to gaseous state takes a lot of energy from
the burning cell and avoids inflammation of adjacent cells (propagation). In the
case of phase change the releasing gases can escape via a valve.

High energy density via functional integration

The thermal management of the Light Battery especially proves the consistent
high functional integration of this device. For example, the coolant has three
different functions: cell cooling, fire extinguisher and data transfer. Another
example is the contact plate of the round cells. It connects the cells in a
parallel arrangement, includes the fuses for protection against shorts, replaces
the sensor wiring, and ensures power for the LIRS. The integral design and high
functional integration of the individual components enables the optimal
utilization of the installation space. The battery construction includes fewer
components; it makes the manufacturing processes more efficient, and allows a
high degree of automation. Moreover, the costs of materials and manufacturing
can be reduced, appropriately.

Large driving ranges, high safety, low costs, longevity and high-performance
will help to improve acceptance of electro mobility. The first realization of
the Light Battery concept will prove this with a capacity of 94 kWh - this
corresponds to a driving range of 700 km - installed in the unmodified
installation space of a BMW i3.

You'll find the article in German language and associated pictures under:

https://www.all-electronics.de/batteriekonzept-light-battery/

This article is already published inemobility tec, the technical magazine for
hybrid vehicles and electromobility.

About LION E-Mobility AG:
LION E-Mobility AG (WKN: A1JG3H, Ticker: LMI, Reuters: LMIG.MU) is a Swiss
Holding with strategic investments in the e-mobility sector, particularly in the
field of electric energy storage as well as battery pack development and
management. The Company holds 100% of the German LION Smart GmbH, a development
and engineering company specialized on custom designed battery packs and
battery-management-systems. LION Smart GmbH further holds a 30% stake of the TÜV
SUED Battery Testing GmbH, a dynamically growing joint venture with the renowned
TÜV SUED AG. Members of the Board of Directors are: Mr. Daniel Quinger
(President of the Board), Mr. Tobias Mayer, Mr. Hany Magour, Dr. Isolde Semm,
Mr. Martin Specht and Mr. Michael Geppert. The Management of LION Smart GmbH
consists of Mr. Tobias Mayer and Mr. Walter Wimmer. The Managing Director of the
TÜV SUED Battery Testing GmbH is Mr. Christian Theeck. For more information
please visit our homepage: www.lionemobility.com

About LION Smart GmbH:
LION Smart GmbH is an innovative development service provider for original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers of the automobile industry and
other industry sectors like aviation and maritime. As a partner in system
analysis, selection and design of electric energy storage systems like lithium
batteries and integration into the specific vehicle concept LION Smarts
engineers have a very high level of expertise. LION Smart carries out its own
research program in the field of lithium-ion technology and has filed two
patents in the past twelve months.

Disclaimer:
This presentation contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of
risks and uncertainties, including statements that relate to, among other
things, the Company's objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs,
expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words
such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "expect", "intend",
"estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the
negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the
Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and
undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors
or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such
statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from expectations include but are not limited to: general business
and economic conditions (including but not limited to currency rates and
creditworthiness of customers); Company liquidity and capital resources,
including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its
activities; level of competition; changes in laws and regulations; legal and
regulatory proceedings; the ability to adapt products and services to the
changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; and the
ability to execute strategic plans. The Company does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements
contained in this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law.
 
Investor Relations Contact:
Mr. Walter Wimmer
Email:  ir@lionemobility.de
http://www.lionemobility.com
 
LION E-Mobility AG
Lindenstrasse 16
6340 Baar
Switzerland
 
 

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05.06.2018  Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service
of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language: English

Company:  LION E-Mobility AG

          Lindenstraße 16

          6340 Baar

          Switzerland

Phone:    +41 (0)41 500 54 11

Fax:      +41 (0)41 500 54 12

E-mail:    info@lionemobility.de

Internet: www.lionemobility.com

ISIN:     CH0132594711, CH0132594711

WKN:      A1JG3H  , A1JG3H

Listed:   Regulated Unofficial Market in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich (m:access)



 

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